Read Online The Flood-Tide by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles - Free Book Online Page A

place as planned, but that the children's part of the entertainment was cancelled. William would not in any case have gone without Charlotte, and Edward and Jamie had never much cared about it, so they were not too disappointed, but Mary was furious, and by a fine piece of illogic, blamed Charlotte for the whole thing.
    ‘Naturally they cancelled it because they heard Charlotte is sulking in bed. It isn't fair. Why is everyone against me? I shall never forgive her for this, never!' she cried through tears of rage.
    Rachel, the under-nursery-maid, threatened her with a whipping, and Abram sent up a special batch of cakes for consolation, but as Edward said unconcernedly as he set off to find a book for the evening, 'When Mary sulks, she likes to do it for a good, long time.’
    When Jemima emerged from the closet, where the powdering was always done, dressed except for her gown, Allen, preparing resignedly to take her place, said, 'I don't wish to be vindictive, but I rather resent that the boy didn't hurt himself more seriously. If he was going to cause so much trouble, he might at least have got the ball cancelled, and saved me the trouble of flouring my head. Darling, must I really powder?'
    ‘You really must,' Jemima said, not without sympathy, for her own hair was tortured up over a horsehair 'piece', stuffed full of pins, larded, and powdered according to fashion. 'It would be quite an insult to your hosts - and besides, you are Sir Allen now, and must keep up appearances.'
    ‘Well, I suppose we must suffer to be beautiful,' he said with a whimsical smile, and Jemima stepped closer and laid a hand on his shoulder.
    ‘Besides again, you look so handsome in powder, I am almost in sympathy with the fashion. It makes you look so young, and so dashing - what are you doing? Darling, you'll get it all over you! Allen!'
    ‘For two pins,' he murmured, kissing her again, ‘I'd send word that we're both ill.'
    ‘No pins!' she cried, extricating herself laughingly. ‘What, sir, would you shock the whole world by proclaiming that you are in love with your wife? Your wife, sir? No, no, go and powder. I must go and see my poor Charlotte before we leave.’
    Charlotte was lying hunched face down in her bed, one hand clutching a wet handkerchief beside her towselled head on the pillow. Jemima thought she was asleep, and was about to tiptoe away, when Charlotte said in a dull voice, 'Mother?’
    Jemima sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked the rough hair, and after a while Charlotte rolled over and looked up at her with red-rimmed eyes.
    ‘It isn't fair,' she said after a while, not passionately this time, but in a low, tired voice that affected Jemima much more.
    ‘So many things in life seem unfair,' she said.
    ‘But why did Mouse have to die?'
    ‘Because we can't set horses' legs, darling, you know that. I wish we could.'
    ‘I know that, but I mean why? It wasn't fair. He didn't do anything wrong. Why would God make him die like that?'
    ‘Oh Charlotte, I don't know,' Jemima said, sighing. ‘Animals' deaths always seem so hard, much harder than humans'. I suppose because they don't understand. But God knows even when a sparrow falls, and He has His reasons for everything.’
    There was a silence. Charlotte stared past her mother at the flickering candle flame, bowing in the draught from the doorframe. At last she asked, 'What happens to animals, after they die?'
    ‘What do you mean, after they die?' Jemima asked, puzzled. Horses were always cut up for dog food, but she had already promised Charlotte that Mouse would be buried honourably, though she had not had time yet to consider where such a grave could be dug.
    ‘Father Ramsay says that horses have no souls. So that means they can't go to Heaven, doesn't it?’
    Here was the heart of her trouble. Her eyes came reluctantly back to her mother's and she swallowed, trying to look grown-up and unconcerned.
    ‘I don't know, darling. Father Ramsay ought to know best -