Sentence of Marriage Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    ‘I don’t think you’ll be in much danger,’ Bill said with a laugh, but he walked behind them up to the house when he had tethered the horses.
    ‘We’ll knock at the back door,’ Lizzie said. ‘It’s more friendly than using the front as though we were only visitors.’
    ‘So what are we?’ Amy asked.
    ‘Neighbours, of course,’ Lizzie said briskly. ‘We’re being neighbourly.’
    They went into a porch, where Amy recognised Frank’s ancient felt hat hanging from a peg. She looked closely at the back door and decided it might once have been painted green. Lizzie gave the door a firm rap, waited a few seconds, then rapped again.
    The door was opened and Frank looked out. When he saw Lizzie his eyes grew wide with something that Amy thought just might have been fear; he looked relieved to see Bill behind them.
    ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked. ‘Ah, what a nice surprise!’ he added hastily, though his face did not quite match his words.
    ‘Hello, Frank,’ Lizzie said, flashing him her brightest smile. ‘I’ve baked you something. Can we come in?’
    ‘Ah, yes, of course,’ Frank said. He opened the door wider for them. ‘Um, I’m afraid it’s not very tidy.’
    Amy had no idea how many plates the Kellys possessed, but she was sure a large portion of them must be on the table, and most of the rest on the bench. The plates on the table jostled for space with several heavy saucepans, all with spoons or forks inside.
    ‘Haven’t done the dishes for a while,’ Frank said unnecessarily. ‘Would you like to sit down?’ He pulled out a chair, then shoved it quickly back under the table, but not before Amy had seen what was obviously a pair of combinations draped over the seat; probably waiting to be mended, judging from the large rent in the back. Another chair was graced with a pair of socks. Frank pulled these off and threw them towards the door, where his boots were lying against each other.
    ‘What about a cup of tea? The teapot’s here somewhere.’ He lifted the newspapers that were spread over the table among the plates, and sprang with relief on an old enamel teapot.
    ‘That would be lovely,’ Lizzie said, to Amy’s horror. ‘Where shall we put these?’ She indicated the pies she and Amy still held.
    ‘Oh, yes, thank you.’ Frank took the pies and looked around for a clear space to put them. Lizzie obligingly stacked some plates together on the bench, and Frank put the pies down. ‘Hey, these look good!’
    ‘I hope you enjoy them,’ Lizzie said sweetly.
    ‘Ah, perhaps you’d rather have it in the parlour,’ Frank said, looking anxiously around the room.
    ‘If you like,’ said Lizzie.
    ‘Hey, Lizzie,’ Bill put in, ‘I can’t stay here all day, you know.’
    ‘It won’t take long,’ Lizzie said, casting a threatening look at him.
    At that moment the back door opened, and they all turned to see Ben walk in. He stood and stared at the apparition of strangers in his kitchen. There was a long silence; even Lizzie was not bold enough to speak. Then he looked at Frank and said in a tone of utter disgust, ‘Women!’ With that he turned on his heel and left the house, slamming the door behind him.
    ‘Sorry about that,’ Frank said after an awkward pause. ‘Ben’s not used to visitors.’
    ‘Perhaps we should go,’ Amy said hesitantly.
    ‘No, no,’ Frank said, looking as though he wished they would. ‘You must have a cup of tea first.’
    They let him usher them through to the parlour. ‘It’s a bit tidier in here,’ said Frank.
    It was indeed tidier, and Amy could guess the reason: the room had obviously not been used in years. It was dim until Frank pulled back the drapes, revealing layers of dust on all the wooden surfaces. Frank opened a window, which disturbed the dust. Amy coughed.
    ‘Sorry, it’s a bit dusty in here,’ said Frank. ‘We don’t use this room much.’
    ‘Don’t you?’ Lizzie asked in apparent surprise. ‘But it’s a