The Pearly Queen Read Online Free PDF Page A

Dad, ‘so do the rest of us, and so do most people round ’ere. About time you cooked some rice puddings yourself, Mother, an’ gave them to the starvin’ poor instead of pokin’ them with your fiery sword.’
    â€˜Oh, ’elp,’ breathed Betsy.
    â€˜Sticks an’ stones may break my bones, but words won’t never ’urt me,’ said Mother.
    Dad made the tea and brought the pot to the table. ‘Anyway, what ’appened in Whitechapel?’ he asked.
    â€˜It wasn’t nice, I can tell you that,’ said Mother, vexed. ‘I went among them with Mother Verity to offer them salvation and repentance.’
    â€˜Mother Verity?’ said Patsy.
    â€˜She was Miss Celia Stokes till she was anointed,’ said Mother.
    â€˜I hear you’ve been anointed Mother Mary,’ said Dad.
    â€˜I was done that religious honour by our minister, Father Peter,’ said Mother. She frowned at what was left of the rice pudding. ‘Perhaps I’ll ’ave a little of that,’ she said. Betsy fetched a spoon and plate, and she helped herself from the dish. ‘I’ve been very sore tried this afternoon,’ she said. ‘I can do with a bit of eatin’.’
    She ate the lot and scraped the dish. Dad poured the tea, Patsy milking the cups. She looked at him. He winked and nodded. She put milk into all five cups. Mother took her cup without commenting.
    â€˜Sugar, Mum – sugar, Mother?’ invited Betsy, pushing the bowl forward. Mother absently sugared her tea.
    â€˜Father Peter and ’is assistant, Father Luke, are both comin’ with us to Whitechapel tomorrow,’ she said.
    â€˜Sounds Roman Cath’lic to me,’ said Dad.
    â€˜Excuse me, but we don’t ’old with no Pope,’ said Mother. ‘Father Peter says the Vatican’s full of cardinal gluttony. And our League’s not Protestant or Cath’lic, it’s just to bring the word of the Lord to the land, like the Israelites did when Moses led them out of Egypt and Joshua went among the sinners of the land for their own good.’
    â€˜Barmy,’ said Dad under his breath.
    â€˜What’s that?’ demanded Mother.
    â€˜Tea all right?’ asked Dad.
    â€˜Who put milk and sugar in it? You know I’ve given up that sort of thing.’ Mother looked put upon as she sipped her tea.
    â€˜We’re takin’ the washin’ to the Bagwash laundry tomorrow,’ said Patsy, ‘and after it’s been out on the line, Dad says ’e’s goin’ to ’ave a go at doin’ the ironing.’
    â€˜What?’ asked Mother.
    â€˜Yes, fancy Dad ’aving to do the ironing,’ said Patsy in disgust.
    Mother gave her a puzzled look. ‘What’s that girl’s name?’ she asked.
    â€˜Patsy,’ said Jimmy.
    â€˜Well, Patsy, if that’s who you are,’ said Mother, ‘mind what you say about Mr Andrews. I ’appen to be in holy wedlock with him.’
    â€˜I thought you’d forgot that,’ said Patsy pointedly.
    â€˜What! Where’s my umbrella?’ asked Mother.
    â€˜You can forget that,’ said Dad.
    â€˜By our sins we shall be punished accordin’,’ said Mother. She put her empty cup down. ‘I’m goin’ out now.’
    â€˜You’ve only been in ten minutes,’ said Dad.
    â€˜I’m goin’ to the public baths for a bath,’ said Mother. ‘I’ll see to some bread and water for all of you when I get back.’ She rose from the table, picked up her brolly and handbag and went to the downstairs bedroom she shared with Dad to collect a change of clothes. Then she took herself off to the public baths, open on Friday evenings. She left the members of her family looking at each other.
    â€˜What a palaver,’ said Dad, trying to sound cheerful. ‘Still, she’ll get over it in time. Just for the present, though, I