Read Online And Those Who Trespass Against Us by Helen M MacPherson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Helen M MacPherson
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twitched. "I'm sorry. We're not laughing at you. Your habit, particularly your wimple and veil, is terribly inappropriate for the Australian climate."
Katherine picked up the hand mirror and recognised immediately that she looked ridiculous . She blushed and placed the mirror down. "That settles it. I can't possibly wear a hat with my veil and wimple. Your offer is most generous." She took off the hat and handed it back to Catriona. "However I'm sorry. It's one I can't accept."
"There's another solution, Katherine," Catriona said in clipped tones. "Don't wear such a ridiculous head covering." She thrust the hat back toward her.
"You know that's not possible. This is a part of my habit." Katherine stubbornly handed the hat back to Catriona.
"Now you're being silly," Catriona retorted. "I don't care if your veil and wimple is glued to your head. The simple fact of the matter is if you don't wear a hat you'll suffer under the Australian sun. The sun out here does not differentiate based on religion, Sister Flynn ."
Catriona stood, hands on hips, challenging Katherine to counter the logic of her argument. Katherine held her ground, hands tightly clasped at her waist, calling on all her willpower to keep her Irish temper in check.
Susan failed to stifle a laugh. "For heaven's sake, look at the two of you. If you stand there much longer one of you are going to burst something." She carefully extricated the now crumpled straw hat from Catriona's hands and poked the other woman in the chest. "You should know better. Katherine's barely been in this country a day and you're already mapping out her life, without first asking. If she doesn't want the hat, then you may buy it, but you can't force her to wear it. And you, Katherine, should step back for a moment. We're not disparaging your religious beliefs. All we're doing is pointing out that maybe your woollen habit needs to be adapted to suit the Australian conditions. If you don't want to wear the hat, then so be it. Either way I won't have you two arguing in the middle of my store." She reshaped the hat and returned it to its original place. "You'll scare away the customers."
Katherine stared at Catriona, aware of the petulance of their situation. Catriona was riveted to her spot, chin slightly forward and eyes afire. It's all right for you, Katherine inwardly huffed. You can afford to buy a hat, and replace it whenever you want. I'd be lucky to even afford the ribbon to go around the hat. Katherine couldn't help but be angered by Catriona. Coupled with this anger was a frustration that Catriona, with her family wealth, could afford to adopt such a position, while she, with hardly any more to her name than a handful of pounds, couldn't.
Catriona broke her gaze. "You're right Susan. I've more important things to do than to stand around and crowd your store. As for Sister Flynn, she has an appointment with the gentlewomen of the town, one which I'm sure she'll enjoy. I'd hate to keep the ladies' committee waiting. Sister Flynn, if you'll follow me."
With a nod toward Susan, Catriona strode out of the store, seemingly oblivious to whether Katherine followed her.
CATRIONA TOOK GREAT delight seeing Katherine struggle with her habit as she got onto the wagon. Allowing Katherine to haul herself up unaided and somewhat unceremoniously was inconsiderate, but she couldn't help herself. She didn't like to be bested by anyone, especially someone new to the town.
" Thank you for your help." Katherine looked straight ahead. "I must refine my skills in getting in and out of this wagon." She straightened her tunic. "It's something everyone should learn to do by themselves ."
Damn it if she doesn't make me feel like a child, Catriona fumed. My actions were petty, but she deserved it. Catriona stopped. She sounded like a bloody spoilt child. Masking her emotions, she cracked the whip a little too liberally beside the horse, to urge it forward. The result was a spooked horse, causing
Katherine picked up the hand mirror and recognised immediately that she looked ridiculous . She blushed and placed the mirror down. "That settles it. I can't possibly wear a hat with my veil and wimple. Your offer is most generous." She took off the hat and handed it back to Catriona. "However I'm sorry. It's one I can't accept."
"There's another solution, Katherine," Catriona said in clipped tones. "Don't wear such a ridiculous head covering." She thrust the hat back toward her.
"You know that's not possible. This is a part of my habit." Katherine stubbornly handed the hat back to Catriona.
"Now you're being silly," Catriona retorted. "I don't care if your veil and wimple is glued to your head. The simple fact of the matter is if you don't wear a hat you'll suffer under the Australian sun. The sun out here does not differentiate based on religion, Sister Flynn ."
Catriona stood, hands on hips, challenging Katherine to counter the logic of her argument. Katherine held her ground, hands tightly clasped at her waist, calling on all her willpower to keep her Irish temper in check.
Susan failed to stifle a laugh. "For heaven's sake, look at the two of you. If you stand there much longer one of you are going to burst something." She carefully extricated the now crumpled straw hat from Catriona's hands and poked the other woman in the chest. "You should know better. Katherine's barely been in this country a day and you're already mapping out her life, without first asking. If she doesn't want the hat, then you may buy it, but you can't force her to wear it. And you, Katherine, should step back for a moment. We're not disparaging your religious beliefs. All we're doing is pointing out that maybe your woollen habit needs to be adapted to suit the Australian conditions. If you don't want to wear the hat, then so be it. Either way I won't have you two arguing in the middle of my store." She reshaped the hat and returned it to its original place. "You'll scare away the customers."
Katherine stared at Catriona, aware of the petulance of their situation. Catriona was riveted to her spot, chin slightly forward and eyes afire. It's all right for you, Katherine inwardly huffed. You can afford to buy a hat, and replace it whenever you want. I'd be lucky to even afford the ribbon to go around the hat. Katherine couldn't help but be angered by Catriona. Coupled with this anger was a frustration that Catriona, with her family wealth, could afford to adopt such a position, while she, with hardly any more to her name than a handful of pounds, couldn't.
Catriona broke her gaze. "You're right Susan. I've more important things to do than to stand around and crowd your store. As for Sister Flynn, she has an appointment with the gentlewomen of the town, one which I'm sure she'll enjoy. I'd hate to keep the ladies' committee waiting. Sister Flynn, if you'll follow me."
With a nod toward Susan, Catriona strode out of the store, seemingly oblivious to whether Katherine followed her.
CATRIONA TOOK GREAT delight seeing Katherine struggle with her habit as she got onto the wagon. Allowing Katherine to haul herself up unaided and somewhat unceremoniously was inconsiderate, but she couldn't help herself. She didn't like to be bested by anyone, especially someone new to the town.
" Thank you for your help." Katherine looked straight ahead. "I must refine my skills in getting in and out of this wagon." She straightened her tunic. "It's something everyone should learn to do by themselves ."
Damn it if she doesn't make me feel like a child, Catriona fumed. My actions were petty, but she deserved it. Catriona stopped. She sounded like a bloody spoilt child. Masking her emotions, she cracked the whip a little too liberally beside the horse, to urge it forward. The result was a spooked horse, causing
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