Read Online The Serpent in the Glass (The Tale of Thomas Farrell) by D.M. Andrews - Free Book Online Page A

and arrivals board high above. Arrangements had been made for someone from Darkledun Manor to meet them here at ten o’clock. They didn’t have to wait long. About ten minutes after their arrival Thomas saw a thin man in a long, black, unbuttoned coat weaving his way through the crowd toward them. In his gloved hand he held a large pocket watch attached to his black waistcoat by a long silver chain. On seeing them he stuffed the watch into a pocket, smiled and took the last few steps with his hand held out.
    ‘Mr Westhrop?’ he said when he finally got near enough for Mr Westhrop to shake his extended hand. He had an accent Thomas couldn’t place, but it sounded like he came from somewhere where they did a lot of farming.
    ‘Yes. Mr Clear, I assume?’ Mr Westhrop shook the other’s hand.
    The lanky man gave a short bow. ‘That do be me, sir. Stanwell Clear at your services!’
    Stanwell wasn’t quite what Thomas had been expecting, and from the look on their faces the Westhrops felt the same. Thomas had imagined someone like Mr Bartholomew, educated and in a neat suit. Instead, Stanwell Clear’s manner was one of little education and his black suit looked as if it’d been upon its owner for some weeks. It was obvious from Mrs Westhrop’s expression that she disapproved, though she still smiled as pleasantly as she could. Jessica had no such affectation. Her eyes were as near to bulging as they could get. Thomas wanted to tell her to stop staring, but couldn’t find a way to get her attention without Mr Clear noticing.
    Stanwell Clear’s thin face was nevertheless kind, if somewhat grizzled. It didn’t look as if he shaved any more often than he ironed. Wisps of grey and black hair shot out from under the black fedora hat he wore. He stuck his hand in a pocket of his jacket, and then in another, and another, until he found what he was looking for: a somewhat battered cream-coloured envelope, which he handed enthusiastically to Mr Westhrop.
    Mr Westhrop opened the envelope and, after glancing briefly at the letter inside, nodded his head in approval.
    ‘Darkledun Manor be a fine school, sir. I’m sure your children are very grateful that you’ve decided to put ’em in it, so to speak.’
    ‘Yes, yes,’ Mr Westhrop said. ‘How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child, eh?’
    Thomas swallowed hard, remembering his nightmare and the great fangs in the serpent’s mouth. Why had Mr Westhrop chosen that phrase? Thomas remembered he’d used it before, when telling him off.
    ‘It’s just a saying,’ Mr Westhrop explained, as Mr Clear stared blankly at him.
    Stanwell tilted his head. ‘Oh I see, yes, a sayin’. I must remember that one, yes.’
    Mr Westhrop handed the letter back to Mr Clear. ‘Well, I suppose we should go. We don’t want Thomas — or Jessica — to miss their train.’
    Mr Clear stuffed the letter back into one of his many pockets. ‘No we don’t sir, we’s a ways to go and time and trains wait for no man.’
    ‘Er — yes,’ said Mr Westhrop, looking at Mr Clear with some concern. ‘So,’ he said, turning to Thomas and Jessica, ‘we’ll see you two at Christmas. Remember to behave yourselves!’
    ‘Yes, goodbye dear,’ Mrs Westhrop said to Jessica, giving her a big hug, and quite unexpectedly becoming tearful. By the look on Jessica’s face she was as surprised as Thomas.
    ‘Tell Thomas “goodbye” too,’ Mrs Westhrop whimpered.
    Jessica smiled and looked at Thomas.
    Mr Westhrop looked around uncomfortably. ‘Now dear, pull yourself together, we may be losing Jessica for a while, but we’ll be gaining a paying lodger. And don’t forget there’s that new gazebo we’re going to buy tomorrow, remember? Think how that will look in your wonderful garden.’
    Mrs Westhrop seemed to suddenly brighten up. ‘Yes, I’d forgotten about that.’
    ‘We’re having a lodger?’ Jessica asked.
    ‘Oh yes, didn’t I tell you?’ Mr Westhrop said.