or someone to see to, I’ll be thinking,’ he
added, patting the donkey’s withers.
Raising her eyebrows, Lily turned the
cart for home. She was so busy reflecting on her first day at work that she passed
by the clumps of violets without noticing them.
The days passed and Lily settled into
her new job with enthusiasm.
Then to her surprise, on arriving back
at the cottage a week after she’d started in Bransbeer, her mother was dressed
and sitting by the fire. Rushing over, Lily bent to give her a kiss, but her joy
quickly turned to concern when she saw the tears rolling down her cheeks.
‘Mother, whatever’s
wrong?’ she asked, putting her arms around the woman’s shoulders. But
her mother just stared at her with vacant eyes and Lily felt a shiver prickle her
spine. It was almost as if she didn’t recognize her, she thought.
Just then, Aunt Elizabeth came into the
room with Beth.
‘I’ve been to play with
Harriet,’ the little girl said, running over to Lily and throwing her arms
around her legs.
‘That’s nice, and what did
you play?’ Lily asked, smiling down at her. Then, she looked back at her
mother, her brow creasing again.
‘You go outside and wash your
hands, Beth,’ their aunt said, intercepting the look. ‘You can tell Lily
about yourday over supper.’ As Beth hurried out to the pump,
Aunt Elizabeth turned to Lily.
‘Your mother had a visit from
Squire Clinsden earlier and I’m afraid what he had to say saddened her
something sorry. She’s been sitting like that since he left an hour
ago,’ she said, shaking her head.
‘What did he say that upset her so
much, Auntie?’ Lily asked.
‘He was here to serve us an
eviction notice,’ growled Robert, hobbling into the room with an armful of
logs. Angrily he threw them down by the fire.
‘What?’ Lily gasped.
‘That can’t be right. We’re not behind with the rent; I made sure
it was paid on the last quarter-day.’
‘Yes, but the cottage went with
your father’s work as a labourer. Knowing the state of your mother’s
health, the squire’s been kind enough to let you stay on these past few weeks.
Now he’s had to take on someone new to work the farm. Goes by the name of
Stanton, apparently. Anyhow, his lordship visited today. He could have just sent his
land agent but had the decency to come himself,’ her aunt said.
‘But he can’t just evict us,
surely?’ Lily asked, her eyes wide with shock.
Her aunt looked at her and sighed.
‘I’m afraid he can, Lily dear. As I said, this is a coupled cottage and
Stanton’s moving in on the next quarter-day. However, the squire has
generously said you can stay till then.’
‘But that’s no time at all.
It’s May already. Where does he expect us to go?’ Lily asked, her voice
rising in panic. Beth, who’d crept back into the room unnoticed, gave awhimper and Aunt Elizabeth scooped her up into her arms.
‘Now calm yourself, Lily.
You’re frightening Beth. I suggest we have our broth. Things always look
better when you’ve a full stomach.’
Lily nodded absent-mindedly as she went
over to her mother, who hadn’t yet stirred.
‘Don’t worry, Mother,
we’ll sort it out,’ she promised, patting the woman’s thin
shoulders. But her mother didn’t answer. She just sat there staring blankly
ahead of her.
Her aunt, meanwhile, was filling mugs
with broth from the pot over the fire. Despite the savoury aroma, they had little
appetite and it was only Beth who ate. Gloomily they sat there, lost in thought as
they pondered the future. A sudden tug at her skirt brought Lily back to the
present.
‘Will you tell me a story,
Lily?’ Beth asked, clambering onto her lap. Forcing a smile, Lily nodded and
put down her mug.
‘Rob, you clear away and
I’ll see to your mother,’ Aunt Elizabeth said. ‘I’ll give
her some valerian root to calm her, then settle her in
John Warren, Libby Warren
F. Paul Wilson, Alan M. Clark