Read Online Pure as the Lily by Catherine Cookson - Free Book Online Page A

idea who it’s from?”
    “No, no, Da. Well, there’s just one lad I know who doesn’t talk much; but then’—she shrugged her shoulders “I really don’t think he would send me a card.”
    “Well anyway’—he nicked his fingers at her—’it’s a start. You’ll see, they’ll be comin’ every post from now on.”
    “Oh, Da, don’t be daft.”
    “The lads in my class think you’re bonny.”
    They both turned and looked at Jimmy where he had been bending over his books in the corner of the room, seeming uninterested in what was going on, and her da laughed aloud now as he said, “There you are;
    that’s fame for you. “
    “Oh, Da!” She pushed him, then said, “Oh you, our Jimmy! talk about spinning them.”
    “I’m not, I’m not, Mary. Honest. They were talkin’ about lasses one day and one of the lads said you were a cracker.”
    “How old was he?” Mary was standing very straight now, her head up, her chin to one side.
    “Same as me, fourteen.”
    “Fourteen!” She slumped with her mirth and laid her head against Alec’s shoulder, saying, “Fourteen, Da, fourteen!” and Alee, laughing too, said, “Well, he’ll grow; there’s plenty of time.”
    “You, Jimmy!”
    The voice came from the bedroom, and Jimmy got up heavily from his seat and looked at them for a moment, and they at him; then he bowed his head and went from the room.

    Wearily now Alee turned towards the fire, saying below his breath, “You know, of the three of us I’m beginning to think he’s got the worst deal.”
    Suddenly Mary felt sad, not because of what her da had said about Jimmy, but because he was no longer pretending that everything was all right between her ma and him. It was three against one now, but she knew that the one was stronger than the three put together.

Chapter Five
    mary had been working at the shop for six weeks when Alice said, “I’m havin’ no more of this, I’m getting’ on me feet.”
    Don’t be silly, Ma. The doctor said it would be eight weeks, and you had to be careful. “ Alice stared at her for a moment before she said grimly, “Mr. Weir says you can get crutches if you go down to the Infirmary; your da’ll go the morrow and get me them, and once I’m on me legs I’m comin’
    down there to see what you’re up to, me girl.”
    “What do you mean, Ma, what I’m up to?”
    “Just what I say, ‘cos I know you’re not takin’ two pen—north of notice what I tell you. I don’t know what’s going on, but you’re too happy by half. There was me having to practically beg you to take it on, and now I’ll likely have to hammer you to give it up. But you’ll give it up, me girl. Oh aye, you’ll give it up, I’ll see to that.”
    Mary bit on her lip, shook her head and walked out. The day being Wednesday, she sat down to the table to dinner with Ben, and they were almost finished the meal when he said, “Is there anything wrong, Mary?”
    She gazed at her plate before she looked up at him, saying, “I’ll soon be finished; me ma’s on her feet again, at least she will be the day, she’s getting’ crutches.”
    “Oh!” He went on eating for a moment before saying, “But she’ll be a few more weeks on crutches, she won’t be able to put her foot to the ground for some time yet’ Again she looked up at him, The ma will,” she said flatly.
    When she had cleared the pudding plates and was carrying them into the kitchen Ben followed her and, from the doorway, asked simply, “Would you like to stay on, Mary?” She looked at him over her shoulder.
    “It’s me ma’s job.”
    “It’s anybody’s job I choose to give it to, Mary.”
    The ma would never stand for it. “ She turned her head away from him.
    “I’m very satisfied with the way things are, Mary. And ... and the child’s taken to you; he’s been happier and more obedient these last few weeks than ever I’ve known him. He ... he wanted a playmate, sort of.” He smiled gently.
    Although she