The Shadow of the Sycamores Read Online Free PDF Page B

just one of those things and it was, Henry.’
    ‘Aye, I suppose it was. Wheesht, here’s them coming up now.’
    He kept his arm round his sister as the feet went along the landing, having to hold his breath when his father said, ‘I’dmaybe best look in to see they’re all right?’ and letting it out at Nessie’s hissed, ‘They’ll be sleeping, just leave them.’
    Not until the house was as silent as the grave did Henry make a move and, within ten minutes, brother and sister were creeping through the back door, each carrying a pillowcase stuffed with clothes.
    One knock on her street door was enough to have Isie McIntyre pulling back the heavy curtain at her bedroom window. At her age, she didn’t need as much sleep as she used to. ‘Abby! Henry!’ she exclaimed when she saw her unexpected callers. Forcing her stiff joints inside an old woollen cardigan to hide her well-worn wincey nightgown, she shuffled to the door to let them in, tutting when she saw their drawn faces properly.
    Henry took over as spokesman. ‘We’ve run away – so would you please let us bide here, Gramma?’
    Gathering that something was far wrong at Oak Cottage, Isie decided that now was not the time to ask questions. Her grandchildren were obviously far too upset to answer any and it was long past their bedtime. ‘It’s a good thing I aired out my spare bed yesterday,’ she smiled. ‘You can sleep there, Abby, and Henry can ha’e the couch in the parlour.’
    Recognising from their looks of despair that they needed the comfort of being together, their grandmother ignored any thought of the impropriety of boy and girl, one in her teens, sleeping in the same bed. They were still only bairns, after all; young innocents, what harm could they come to? It would be all right – for one night, at least. Then she would have a try at being peacemaker, in the hope that they’d go back to Oak Cottage.
    Despite having assured herself that nothing untoward would happen between them, Isie took a quick peep into her spare room after she had cleared up in the kitchen and was relieved to see Henry with his hand protectively on his sister’s shoulder, both sound asleep. Poor wee lambs, she thought, as she went through to her own bed.

    A big pan was hottering on the range when the two youngsters made their appearance in the morning, looking, Isie was pleased to see, rather better than they had the night before. ‘Now then,’ she said, briskly, as she poured the breakfast into three deep bowls, ‘you can tell me your story once we’ve supped this porridge.’
    Nothing was said until the bowls and the enamel mugs of milk were empty, then she raised her eyebrows encouragingly to the boy. ‘Come on then, Henry.’
    Some moments later, as he came to a gulping halt, Isie was having to bite her tongue to stop her from voicing her opinion of their father for not standing up for them. It was terrible to think that Willie Rae had sided with that uncorseted mantrap against his own flesh and blood. But what was inside his breeks had aye been more important to him than what was inside his head, even when he was wed on her poor Bella – the filthy pig.
    But it was these two hapless creatures she had to consider now. If she could afford it, she would gladly keep them for good but what she made from the washing and ironing she took in wouldn’t stretch to feeding two extra mouths.
    ‘The thing is, Gramma,’ Henry went on suddenly, ‘I’ll have to go to Craigdownie today, for Jim Legge said I’d to start first thing Monday morning.’
    Isie had almost forgotten what had led to the row at Oak Cottage and couldn’t help being pleased that there was one less for her to worry about, although she was instantly ashamed of herself. They were of her flesh and blood and all, poor things. ‘Well now, Henry, if you dinna like it there or if things dinna turn oot the way you want, you’re welcome to come back here. We’ll manage somehow or other.’
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