The Mill Girls of Albion Lane Read Online Free PDF Page A

minute and she still had to drop by at Annie’s house to let her know her night out had been called off at the last minute.
    â€˜We saw your Margie dashing off into town not long back,’ Ernie Durant commented. Ernie stood between Billy and Harry, who were both tall. The butcher’s son only came up to their shoulders and, with his fresh face, freckles and boyish expression looked the youngest of the three, though Ernie was twenty-four and Harry and Billy twenty-two. ‘She hopped on the number twelve quick as a shot. Blink and she was gone.’
    â€˜Ernie was put out because it looked like she was off to meet someone special,’ Harry commented with a meaningful wink.
    â€˜Don’t listen to him,’ Ernie blustered. ‘Margie’s a free agent. She can do what she likes.’ But it was true that he had a soft spot for the middle Briggs girl, even though she was eight years younger than him and, as Harry and Billy kept telling him, well out of his league as regards looks and style.
    â€˜No need to fret, Ernie. Margie’s out tonight with the usual gang of girls from Kingsley’s,’ Lily told him. ‘Anyway, I’m sorry, boys, but I have to go.’
    â€˜Everyone’s in a rush tonight,’ Harry said, his face shadowed by the peak of his tweed cap, which didn’t, however, hide the twinkle in his grey eyes.
    â€˜Well, I’ll be seeing you, I expect,’ she told him, intent on hiding her blushes as she hurried off, this time keeping firm hold of Arthur’s hand. ‘By the way, good news – I’ve got myself a new job,’ she called over her shoulder.
    It was Harry who broke away from the group, jogged after her and caught her up at the junction with Overcliffe Road. ‘Will you be moving from Calvert’s?’ he wanted to know.
    â€˜No, I’ll be in the mending shop there. More money, Harry – that is good, isn’t it?’ While she talked she kept an eye out for the tram coming up from town and said a reluctant yes to Arthur’s request for him to take a quick look at the brewery horses on the Common. ‘Watch the road, though,’ she yelled after him as he crossed over the steel tracks.
    â€˜That’s champion,’ Harry replied.
    â€˜That’s just what I said to Miss Valentine – champion!’ Her normally serious face lit up with a bright, infectious smile. It was nice of Harry to pay special attention to her news and the smile was meant to show him that she appreciated it.
    â€˜I’m happy for you, Lily. You deserve it.’
    She blushed again at the compliment then modestly switched attention away from her own success. ‘I expect you’re glad you never went after mill work, Harry?’
    â€˜Yes, I’m pretty settled where I am at Moor House, thanks.’
    â€˜Yes, I know you. There’s nothing you like better than to swank around in your posh uniform,’ Lily teased. Privately she had to admit Harry was a sight for sore eyes each morning as she glimpsed him leaving his house and cycling down the side alley in his light grey chauffeur’s jacket with the shiny silver buttons and the matching cap. Not that she would tell him this because it was generally acknowledged that Harry Bainbridge’s head was big enough already. ‘Oh no!’ she said suddenly.
    â€˜What?’ For a moment Harry thought Arthur must have got into more trouble.
    â€˜The tram’s coming and I forgot to call in at Annie’s house.’
    Sure enough the yellow and black tram rattled along the steel rails towards them and Arthur darted out of the gloom, across the road to join them.
    â€˜Can you pass on a message for me?’ she asked Harry. ‘Tell her I’ve to take Arthur to Granddad Preston’s so not to wait for me.’
    â€˜Right-oh,’ Harry agreed. ‘See you in a while, Lily.’ And he went away, cheerfully repeating the message to