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

didn’t look at him but went on scraping the bits from the plates she knew he was smiling, she could tell by his voice. She had learned a lot about Mr. Tollett during the last few weeks; she could in a way understand why her ma liked him liked him too much, because he was different from her da.
    But there was nobody like her da, nobody; her ma should be satisfied having a man like her da.
    “She wouldn’t stand for it,” she repeated.
    “Oh!” His tone had a touch of authority to it now.
    “It isn’t what she’d stand or not stand, if you want to stay on you can, and welcome.
    The only thing is, I think it’s too much for you doing the two jobs, the hours are too long. If . if you decide to take it on full-time I’ll pay you accordingly. You won’t lose by it. “ She turned and looked at him. His brown eyes were kind and had a great depth to them; sometimes she felt uneasy when they were on her.
    E;’,. /’ “Will you think it over?”
    Ill’ g “I... I don’t need to think it over. I’d stay and be pleased to, very pleased, but it’s ... it’s me ma.” He nodded at her now, a slow smile covering his face.
    “If that’s how you feel, Mary, we’ll meet trouble when it comes. Just carry on as you are doing.” He went to turn away, then stopped and looked at her again and said, “Would you do me a favour?”
    “Oh aye, yes, Mr. Tollett.”
    “Well, on Friday night I’d like to go out. There’s a dinner in Shields, a businessman’s do, it only comes once a year and if you’d stay with David until I get back I’d be very grateful.”
    “Oh yes, yes, of course, I’ll stay. It’ll be a pleasure.” She nodded at him.
    “Thanks, Mary.”
    When she had the kitchen to herself she stopped what she was doing and stood looking through the meshed curtains. There were white tufts of cloud scudding over the chimney pots and she watched the sun come out and turn them to pink fluffy banks. The day was suddenly bright; her life, her future, were suddenly bright; she could have this job for good, full time, and what could her ma do about it if Mr.
    Tollett told her straight? And if she stayed on she would in a way, be killing two birds with one stone, for she would be making not only her own future secure but also her da’s; her ma couldn’t get up to anything if she wasn’t coming back to the shop, could she? Of course, her ma would go mad she knew she would—but if she went on too much she knew what I’8’ she would do. She’d go and live at her grannie’s. There was a spare room there, and her grannie would be only too glad to have her.
    It would be lovely living with her grannie and gran da fancy being able to work here all day in this lovely house, and then at night not to have to go up the street and face her ma, but go to her grannie’s.

    Oh—she sighed deeply—the prospect was too good to be true. On Friday night she ran up the street with the basket of
    groceries and her pay and hurriedly handed her mother the twenty-one shillings.
    “Wait a minute! Walt a minute!” said Alice, as she went to hurry out of the room.
    “You’re like a devil in a gale of wind.”
    “Well’—Mary turned to her ‘you know I’ve got to get back as Mr.
    Tollett’s going out. I’m taking over the shop, I’ve got to get back. “
    “Taking over the shop! ... You! by yourself, and it Friday night, the busiest of the week? You, taking over the shop!”
    “Yes me, Ma.” She took a step back into the room and poked her chin out towards Alice.
    “And if he didn’t think I was capable, well he wouldn’t let me, would he?”
    “Get out of me sight. When I’m properly on me feet, girl, you won’t cheek me like this. By God! I’ll take it out of you when I’m on me feet an’ can manage those crutches.” Mary stared at her mother and was on the point of saying, “You’ve got a surprise coming to you, Ma,” but she left it, there wasn’t time, and as Mr. Tollett said, “Meet trouble when it