The Ribbon Weaver Read Online Free PDF

could do the job and I said yes, so then she took me back to the big house and told me to sit down and sit still.’ She paused again, trying to recall every single thing that had happened to her so as to leave nothing out. By now Amy and Beatrice had also joined her audience and were standing side-by-side, hands clasped, hanging on to her every word in the doorway.
    Eventually, Mary continued, ‘It seemed like I sat there for ages an’ there were people scurryin’ about everywhere. One of the maids was laying this little trolley on wheels for the master and the mistress’s tea. I don’t mind admittin’, the things she were loading on to that trolley made me mouth water. There were tiny sandwiches all cut into dainty little triangles with the crusts trimmed off, an’ homemade cakes and tarts with icing on the top and cream inside. And the teapot, well … I’m tellin’ yer it must have been made of solid silver, and the milk jug and the sugar dish. And the china tea cups and saucers and plates were so fine that you could see your hand through ’em.’ She paused for effect and unconsciously licked her lips at the memory.
    ‘Any road, once the trolley was fully loaded, this other girl comes in. Cook told me she was Lily the parlourmaid and she was really pretty. She had on a black dress with a little frilly apron and a starched white cap, an’ off she goes to take the trolley to the master and mistress. Then when she’d gone, Cook gave me a cup of tea and a big wedge o’ fruitcake. It were lovely and it melted in me mouth. I can still taste it now, mm!’ She rubbed her stomach and grinned at the memory, and now it was Amy and Beatrice’s turn to lick their lips.
    ‘Cook’s name is Mrs Gibbs but everyone just calls her Cook. She frightened me at first ’cos she were shouting out orders right, left and centre whilst she were gettin’ the tea ready. But then once the parlourmaid had gone she calmed down and was really nice. She told me not to look so worried, that her bark was worse than her bite and that’s when she gave me the tea and cake.’
    By now Amy and Beatrice had sidled up to the table and were listening wide-eyed.
    ‘After a time the housekeeper came back and told me to follow her. We seemed to walk for miles through all these corridors at the back of the house. She took me upstairs and showed me this bedroom, and it were then that I realised that I must have got the job because she told me that this would be the room I would be sharin’ with the other laundrymaid, Lizzie, the one I had met earlier in the laundry.’
    ‘What’s the room like?’ asked Bessie, and Mary frowned as she tried to recall every detail.
    ‘I suppose it were fairly sparse. There was a wooden wardrobe that I’m to share with Lizzie, until she leaves that is, two beds an’ a washstand.’ In fact, although sparse, the room had appeared luxurious to Mary. She had never had a bed all to herself before, but she didn’t like to say that for fear of hurting her mam’s feelings.
    ‘Next we went back downstairs and she told me that I will be issued with a uniform when I start. I can begin next Monday, and I’ll have every Sunday afternoon off, then if I do all right after my first six months, I’ll get to have two afternoons off. But I’m telling yer now, Mam, I will do all right, I promise, and one day I’ll make me way up to be a parlourmaid, you just wait an’ see.’
    Her face was glowing with the excitement of it all, and in that moment her homely features could almost have been described as pretty. Standing, Bessie gathered her into her arms and gave her a big cuddle. She was delighted and yet also dreading Mary going, all at once. Mary would be the first of her brood to fly the nest, and the thought of losing her made Bessie’s heart ache. She was a good girl, almost like a second little mother to her brothers and sisters. If truth be told, she was Bessie’s right arm – and she would miss her daughter