Read Online And Those Who Trespass Against Us by Helen M MacPherson - Free Book Online
Authors: Helen M MacPherson
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counter. "Good Morning, Susan. I'm very relieved to see you fared better than some, with yesterday's storm."
The shopkeeper pointed to the implement occupying the bench top. "Get that off my clean counter missy. I've got to lay cloth on this top, and the last thing I want are grease stains caused by the bits and pieces you regularly place on my workspace. The last time you did that it cost me two yards of fine lace. Now put it down on the floor where it belongs."
"Yes, Mrs. Crosier." Catriona touched her hand to her hat, as if mocking Mrs. Crosier. She placed the implement on the floor.
"I'm glad this old shop is made of stone rather than wood," Mrs. Crosier replied as she swept her hand across the counter. "It may be costly to maintain, but it paid for itself yesterday. Unfortunately, my laundry hasn't fared so well. Although, in all honesty, it was only a wood outhouse." She nodded to Katherine. "This must be the new sister. As Catriona's manners have temporarily abandoned her, as they so often do, let me introduce myself." She walked around the counter to Katherine, hand extended. "I'm Susan Crosier. Welcome to Australia."
Katherine shook Susan's firm yet petite hand. "Thank you Mrs. Crosier, I'm Sister Katherine Flynn. Please call me Katherine whenever you deem it appropriate."
"Thank you, and please call me Susan."
Katherine gazed around the store. "Please excuse me for staring, but I'm amazed at the abundance of goods you have in such a confined place."
"There's quite a selection. I expect purchasing goods out here is somewhat different from what you're most likely used to. My store is patronised by people as far as two hundred miles away. They don't always get the opportunity to come in on a weekly basis."
"From that far away--that's almost the size of Ireland, where I've come from."
"That's why some of the families we serve only get into town every six months or so. So it's important they can purchase all their items at once and in the one place." Susan proudly looked at the varied items, uniformly arranged around the walls. "Is there anything you see you'd like to purchase?"
Looking around, Katherine realised how difficult her stay in this country was going to be. There were so many things she needed after her journey. But she absolutely couldn't afford them. Masking the shame of not being able to buy even the most rudimentary item, she walked toward the far corner of the store. "No, thank you. I've more than I require. I'm quite happy to browse if you don't mind." Katherine picked up a hand mirror from one of the shelves. Looking in the glass, she caught the glance exchanged between Catriona and Susan, and the slight nod of Catriona's head.
"If you're going to stay with me," Catriona said, "I don't intend to be responsible for your dying of heat stroke. By now you must realise, from yesterday's near disaster at the train station, it's extremely important to keep your head covered when you're out in the sun. If you've no objections, I'm going to buy you a hat--as a welcome present." Catriona walked to the hat stand at the corner of the store. "What size are you?"
Hearing the determination in Catriona's voice, Katherine sensed her refusal would only bring about an embarrassing scene. With a sigh, she trudged to where Catriona stood. Katherine's hands consciously reached up to her veil. "I'm not quite sure. It's been a while since I've owned one."
Catriona held out a ladies straw-woven hat. "Try this one on. It has a nice broad brim and should keep the sun off your face."
Placing it on her head, Katherine felt that Catriona had made the perfect choice. Only then did she become aware of the silence in the shop. She turned in time to see Catriona and Susan, who were both in the process of restraining themselves from bursting into laughter. "What's wrong?"
"Have you any idea how silly you look with your veil, wimple and a hat on?" Catriona managed to say before breaking into gales of laughter.
Susan's face
The shopkeeper pointed to the implement occupying the bench top. "Get that off my clean counter missy. I've got to lay cloth on this top, and the last thing I want are grease stains caused by the bits and pieces you regularly place on my workspace. The last time you did that it cost me two yards of fine lace. Now put it down on the floor where it belongs."
"Yes, Mrs. Crosier." Catriona touched her hand to her hat, as if mocking Mrs. Crosier. She placed the implement on the floor.
"I'm glad this old shop is made of stone rather than wood," Mrs. Crosier replied as she swept her hand across the counter. "It may be costly to maintain, but it paid for itself yesterday. Unfortunately, my laundry hasn't fared so well. Although, in all honesty, it was only a wood outhouse." She nodded to Katherine. "This must be the new sister. As Catriona's manners have temporarily abandoned her, as they so often do, let me introduce myself." She walked around the counter to Katherine, hand extended. "I'm Susan Crosier. Welcome to Australia."
Katherine shook Susan's firm yet petite hand. "Thank you Mrs. Crosier, I'm Sister Katherine Flynn. Please call me Katherine whenever you deem it appropriate."
"Thank you, and please call me Susan."
Katherine gazed around the store. "Please excuse me for staring, but I'm amazed at the abundance of goods you have in such a confined place."
"There's quite a selection. I expect purchasing goods out here is somewhat different from what you're most likely used to. My store is patronised by people as far as two hundred miles away. They don't always get the opportunity to come in on a weekly basis."
"From that far away--that's almost the size of Ireland, where I've come from."
"That's why some of the families we serve only get into town every six months or so. So it's important they can purchase all their items at once and in the one place." Susan proudly looked at the varied items, uniformly arranged around the walls. "Is there anything you see you'd like to purchase?"
Looking around, Katherine realised how difficult her stay in this country was going to be. There were so many things she needed after her journey. But she absolutely couldn't afford them. Masking the shame of not being able to buy even the most rudimentary item, she walked toward the far corner of the store. "No, thank you. I've more than I require. I'm quite happy to browse if you don't mind." Katherine picked up a hand mirror from one of the shelves. Looking in the glass, she caught the glance exchanged between Catriona and Susan, and the slight nod of Catriona's head.
"If you're going to stay with me," Catriona said, "I don't intend to be responsible for your dying of heat stroke. By now you must realise, from yesterday's near disaster at the train station, it's extremely important to keep your head covered when you're out in the sun. If you've no objections, I'm going to buy you a hat--as a welcome present." Catriona walked to the hat stand at the corner of the store. "What size are you?"
Hearing the determination in Catriona's voice, Katherine sensed her refusal would only bring about an embarrassing scene. With a sigh, she trudged to where Catriona stood. Katherine's hands consciously reached up to her veil. "I'm not quite sure. It's been a while since I've owned one."
Catriona held out a ladies straw-woven hat. "Try this one on. It has a nice broad brim and should keep the sun off your face."
Placing it on her head, Katherine felt that Catriona had made the perfect choice. Only then did she become aware of the silence in the shop. She turned in time to see Catriona and Susan, who were both in the process of restraining themselves from bursting into laughter. "What's wrong?"
"Have you any idea how silly you look with your veil, wimple and a hat on?" Catriona managed to say before breaking into gales of laughter.
Susan's face
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