The Runaway Read Online Free PDF

sighed as the tram she wanted drew up beside her. It was none of her business, of course, she thought as she jumped aboard, and she doubted very much if either girl would listen to advice from someone so much younger than they. But I’ve had more experience of bad‘uns than they have, she thought ruefully, handing the conductor her fare, and it will certainly make life more interesting watching how they deal with him. Settling back in her seat, however, she could not help musing that she might even be able to help them one of these fine days. Satisfied, she began to wonder what she should have for her supper.
    ‘Psst!’ Dana, once more up to her elbows in water and potatoes, turned her head sharply as someone entered the scullery behind her. It was Ernie, looking portentous. ‘I gorra message for you from your pal,’ he said in thrilling tones. ‘She says her feller has been an’ gone an’ done whatever it were you wanted ’im to …’ He gave a snigger, then straightened up hastily as Dana’s cupped hand withdrew from the water in a threatening manner. ‘Awright, awright, keep your hair on! Caitlin says this feller will meet the pair of you out of work when the Willows closes, so’s you can talk business. She would ha’ telled you herself, but —’
    ‘Ernie Frost! Wharrever d’you think you’re doin’? If you’re thinkin’ to help young Ginger wi’ them spuds, you can think again. Unless you want to miss your dinner, of course.’ Dana knew Mrs Haggerty’s voice so well that she had not turned away from the sink, but now she heard herself addressed. ‘Done them spuds yet, Ginger? If so, fill a pan and bring it through, and you can be on first dinner. I might even let you sit next to that other bogtrotter, since I’ll grant you that you’ve worked well today.’
    Dana, splashing peeled potatoes into a big pan of water, turned an astonished face towards the head cook,wondering what was up now. Mrs Haggerty never praised anyone, and saved her nastiest comments for anyone with the misfortune to be Irish. This was odd, because Mrs Haggerty had to be Irish herself with a name like that. Everyone in the kitchen knew that ‘Mrs’ was a courtesy title; Clara Haggerty she had been at her birth, and Clara Haggerty she had remained ever since.
    So now Dana, clutching her pan of potatoes, approached the big woman almost blocking the narrow doorway rather warily. Past experience told her that the cook was quite capable of jabbing her in the ribs or squashing her against the doorpost if she was in one of her more spiteful moods. Accordingly, she slowed as she reached the doorway, but the cook stood aside, leaving Dana a clear passageway past her, and as the two women’s eyes met she spoke again, her tone pleasanter than Dana had ever known it. ‘Mrs Lionel has been doin’ sums. She says we’re sellin’ twice as many Specials as t’other meals on the menu. Specials is cheaper, see, and folk are watchin’ the pennies. So she wants to lose two kitchen workers.’ She paused, as though waiting for Dana’s reaction, but Dana merely folded her lips and kept her face as expressionless as possible. If she were for the high jump … the elbow … the little brown envelope … then she would not give Mrs Haggerty the satisfaction of showing how horrified she felt.
    ‘Well? Ain’t you a-goin’ to ax me who’s gettin’ their cards at the end o’ the week? Ain’t you interested?’
    The pan of potatoes seemed to be growing heavier by the minute. Dana stood the pan down on the nearest surface, but continued to say nothing; what was the point? She did not think Mr Lionel would agree toCaitlin’s being sacked because she was popular with customers when waiting on, but she herself …
    Mrs Haggerty sighed; she was clearly getting tired of her little game. ‘I told ’im I needed every one of you, and if he tried to reduce me staff he’d find even the sale of his Specials would shrink,’ she said. ‘An’