Read Online The Shadow of the Sycamores by Doris Davidson - Free Book Online

and her mind had been going for some time now. She had nearly set the house on fire once – only her next-door neighbour’s keen sense of smell had prevented it. She had broken practically all her dishes – whether by accident or on purpose was difficult to know for she had a vile temper when something upset her.
    It was heart-breaking to see the once fastidious, hardworking woman in the state she’d been that last time, unwashed for weeks on end, thin as a knife blade for want of the foodshe believed she had eaten, yet not a morsel could have passed her lips.
    Janet had had to draw Roderick’s attention to that, she recalled sadly, for men never see what they don’t want to see and they had talked over what they should do – talked and talked without coming to any decision. Luckily, the same neighbour had mentioned her worry about the old woman to her doctor and it was he who had solved the problem.
    Hearing the sound of a light carriage crunching on the gravel, Janet put on her cape and went out at the back door, where Roderick helped her into his little gig. As manager of a drapery shop in Oldmeldrum, he was always dressed in a smart suit and dark homburg which, with his neatly trimmed moustache, made him look quite distinguished. Janet felt quite proud to be sitting beside him as they bowled along.
    ‘I wonder how she’ll be?’ he asked suddenly.
    Janet made a wry face. ‘I hope she’s settled in.’
    ‘They would have let us know if she had not.’
    ‘Aye, I suppose so.’
    No more was said for another few minutes until Janet burst out, ‘I hope they treat her all right. I’d hate to think they were ill-using her. I’ve heard stories about what goes on in madhouses.’
    Roderick tutted loudly. ‘Nonsense! The doctor said The Sycamores is nothing like an asylum.’
    ‘But it’s for mad folk.’
    ‘They are not mad in the sense that you mean. With some, like Ma, it is just the effect of old age but there are others who have had some sort of bad experience that has knocked them off balance for a time.’
    ‘But it’s costing such a lot o’ money, Roderick. I feel terrible that I canna help.’
    ‘I do not begrudge it. She made sure that I had a good education.’
    Janet was well aware of that. Her brother’s schooling had been the reason for her lack of it, for her having to go out to work at such an early age to help pay for his books, but shewasn’t one to hold a grudge either. ‘What’ll happen if she’s in there for years? Her body’s good for a long time yet.’
    ‘What a worrier you are, Janet. I would not have let her be sent there if I had not given thought to that. As long as my business keeps up and the fees are not increased too much, she can stay there for as long as she lives.’ He patted her hand. ‘Does that ease your mind?’
    ‘Roderick, I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t been able to pay …’
    ‘I know that you had to make sacrifices for my sake when we were younger so look on this as me returning that kindness. Put your mind at rest now, my dear sister; there is nothing more for you to worry about.’

    Janet was in a far better mood on the way back to Craigdownie – even though her mother had not recognised either her or Roderick. There was such an improvement in her – her cheeks rosier and not caved in, as they had been, her movements and speech much more decisive. She had held a sensible conversation with them about the daily routine; she had described some of the women she seemed to have made friends with; they had learned about the changing menus, the choices they had. ‘And they won’t let us wash any dishes,’ she had beamed, proudly. ‘There’s women to do all that and keep the place clean and all and there’s nice girls to look after us.’
    They had not known what to say to her but obviously, under the impression that they were strangers, she did not expect them to say much. Even when they rose to leave, she showed no sign of