Sons and Daughters Read Online Free PDF Page A

do to his son, Charlotte dared not think.
    ‘Now,’ Charlotte said severely, ‘what you did was very naughty. You know very well when we do our little plays about the Bible stories, we are pretending. So why did you all hit Georgie?’
    Even as the question came out of her lips, Charlotte already half guessed the answer herself. Their action had been a kind of primeval instinctive reaction against someone who was different. Georgie was from a privileged home. He wore a smart suit. He was articulate and bright and outgoing. And hearing their mothers gushing over the angelic-looking little chap, the local boys had taken an instant dislike to him. Luckily, Charlotte thought, it was most unlikely that Georgie would be attending the village school. And he probably wouldn’t want to attend Sunday school again.
    She turned towards the one she knew had been the ringleader. ‘Tommy Warren, I’m surprised at you. Whatever were you thinking of?’
    Tommy went red and hung his head, afraid that Miss Charlotte would tell his father. ‘I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t think.’
    ‘And you, Sammy. Your father is now Mr Thornton’s tenant.’ Saltwort Farm, where the Barkers lived, was part of the Ravensfleet Estate.
    Tears were running down Sammy’s face now. ‘Please don’t tell me dad, Miss Charlotte. He’ll whip me.’
    ‘So’ll mine when he finds out,’ Tommy muttered.
    Charlotte bit her lip. She so wanted to tell them that she thought it unlikely that their fathers would get to know of their escapade. But a few hours, days maybe, of fear would be an apt punishment.
    ‘Well, I hope you’ve learned your lesson. And the next time you see young Georgie Thornton, you apologize to him. D’you hear me?’
    Three heads nodded vigorously. ‘We’re sorry, Miss Charlotte.’
    ‘Just mind you tell that to Georgie, too. You may go now.’
    She watched them walk out of the schoolroom and down the path through the churchyard. There was no running and whooping and yelling. They were suitably subdued, their heads together, no doubt swapping stories of what punishment awaited them. She felt mean but was determined to stick to her resolve.
    Besides, the little rascals had put her in an unenviable position. Feeling responsible for what had happened to his son, she felt obliged to face Miles Thornton.

 
Five
     
    As Charlotte walked up the long lane leading to the manor on the edge of the town the following morning, she was trembling all over. Her palms were sweaty and her stomach churned.
    Knowing some of the servants there, she went round to the back door.
    ‘Miss Charlotte,’ Lily Warren cried, ‘whatever are you doing here?’ The girl’s welcoming smile faded suddenly. ‘Oh!’ She clapped her hand to her mouth. ‘Nothing’s wrong at home, is it? Don’t say it’s me grandad!’
    ‘No, no, Lily,’ Charlotte reassured her swiftly. ‘Nothing’s wrong. I’m so sorry – I never thought.’
    Lily breathed a sigh of relief. ‘It’s all right, miss. It’s just me being silly. But you know how bad me grandad gets.’
    ‘I do and I’m sorry. I’ll call at the cottage on my way home and see your mother. See how things are.’
    ‘Would you, miss? Oh, that is kind. We’ve been so busy just lately with the new family arriving.’ But Lily was smiling as she said it, as if the changes in their lives were very welcome. Lily had worked at the manor since the age of fourteen, starting as a scullery maid and working up to become first housemaid. Now she wore a black dress, a frilly white apron and cap. Servants were fast becoming a dying breed since the end of the Great War. Women had begun to look for work in offices, shops and even factories. Menial housework was beneath them, they felt, but Lily liked her life at the manor. She loved living in the grand house and she could see her family often. Any other employment would have meant her leaving the countryside she loved.
    There was a pause before the girl asked again, ‘So