Read Online No Peace for Amelia by Siobhan Parkinson - Free Book Online

choked up.
    ‘He didn’t have anyone else to see him off, Mama,’ she said, determined to explain her action, even though no explanation was being required of her.
    ‘No, no, of course not, of course not. His parents were so opposed to his going. Such folly.’
    Amelia wasn’t sure whether the folly applied to Frederick or to Frederick’s parents, so she said nothing in reply to this. After a while she asked: ‘Why do you say it is such a filthy, bloody war, Mama?’
    ‘Oh, child, all wars are filthy and bloody. That is why we are so opposed to them. But I believe this one isparticularly filthy and bloody. Thousands of young men are being killed every week. And for what, for what?’
    ‘Thousands, Mama?’ Amelia thought she must be exaggerating.
    ‘Thousands,’ confirmed her mother.
    ‘So you don’t mind that I went?’
    ‘No, no. Just because we don’t approve of what Frederick is doing doesn’t mean that we would want to be unkind to him. You did the right thing.’
    Amelia beamed.
    ‘But,’ her mother went on, ‘you were wrong to do it in secret. You were wrong to sneak out of the house in the night like a wayward servant, and you were wrong to involve Mary Ann in your duplicity.’
    Amelia stopped beaming and looked at her plate again, but her heart was light. She knew Mama was right, but she didn’t see how else she could have behaved. And she was pretty sure that Mama would put it all right with Papa that evening.
    ‘Mama, we saw Countess Markievicz marching through the streets with the Citizen Army. They had guns, Mama, real ones.’
    ‘Oh dear, oh dear, that foolish woman!’ said Mama, shaking her head.
    ‘She was a friend of yours, Mama. I remember.’
    ‘I knew her some years ago, when she was working for women’s suffrage. She’s always been interested in the nationalist cause.’
    ‘Mama, what do you think of the nationalist cause? Mary Ann has very strong feelings about it.’
    ‘Well, I agree with Mary Ann, to a very great extent, Amelia. There have been a great many injustices in this country. But as a pacifist I can’t condone the use of violence , no matter how strongly people may feel about these issues. I am committed to believing that the way to resolve these problems is through reconciliation. I am sad that Constance has got so mixed up with the violent side of the nationalist cause now. There are rumours that she is drilling youngsters and teaching them to shoot and let off bombs. That can’t be right, Amelia, and it’s very, very dangerous.’
    Amelia felt uncomfortable at this little pacifist lecture, though she knew Mama was right.
    ‘Women are going to get the vote, Mama, aren’t we?’ she asked, to change the subject.
    ‘Well, I hope so. But while this wretched war is on, there will be no developments. Everything has to stand still in war time. There is time only for the war.’
    ‘Oh, Mama, you’ll be late for work,’ Amelia suddenly exclaimed, looking up at the wag-on-the-wall clock, which wagged away solemnly out of her mother’s vision . ‘It’s after half-past eight.’
    ‘Oh dear, oh dear.’ Amelia’s mother jumped to her feet and ran from the room, all thought of women’s suffrage, the nationalist movement and Amelia’s misdemeanour swept aside in her panic.
    Amelia smiled in spite of herself. Mama was always late for work anyway. One more morning wouldn’t make much difference. She stacked the breakfast dishes and took them to the kitchen, hoping Mary Ann could give her a fresh, hot cup of coffee before she had to leave for school. 

The Raid
    S ome days after Frederick had left for the Front, there came a sharp ringing at the Pims’ door, followed almost immediately by an impatient rat-tat-tatting on the knocker and then a thumping sound, as if someone thought the noise of bell and knocker insufficient to call the household to the doorstep and was using some heavy blunt instrument to reinforce his summons. Mary Ann was busy in the kitchen,