every night but you’re still not above a bit of titillation when the opportunity’s put your way.’
‘If you don’t want me to go to the show, I won’t.’
‘That’s not the point, Evan Powell, and you know it.’
‘The point is we’re not in a position to take her in,’ he explained patiently, ‘Not when we’re living together without a wedding ring in sight, and she’s about to start work in a theatre that every preacher has banned his congregation from setting foot in. You know as well as I do what people in this town are going to say.’
‘Better than you, it seems,’ Phyllis’s voice rose precariously. ‘And I’d have thought that after some of the things this family has been through in the last couple of years, you wouldn’t give a damn what anyone says about you, or any other Powell.’
‘It’s not just us. There’s Diana to consider, and the girl herself.’
‘Diana’s got a lot more common sense than you when it comes to something like this. And as for Jane, if she’s found the courage to take a job in the Town Hall now, when the Revue’s playing, I hardly think she’s going to worry about a few gossips.’
‘I don’t think she has a clue what she’s got herself into. If she’s found and charged with being a recalcitrant pauper, she could end up in prison …’
‘All the more reason for us to take her in before she is found. Couldn’t we say that she’s my cousin from Church Village?’ Phyllis wheedled. ‘Let her stay, just until she gets her first week’s wages? Please?’
‘And if the workhouse finds out?’
‘How will they? They’re looking for a girl in a workhouse dress and clogs. Not an usherette. I hardly recognised her myself when she walked in. And you heard her, she told the man who hired her that we took her out of the workhouse.’
‘And if the Town Hall checks?’
‘They won’t. Not now they’ve taken her on. From what she said they’re only too glad to have someone who’s prepared to work at short notice.’
‘Phyllis …’
‘Please, Evan. It’s not that long ago I was in her shoes, wearing a workhouse dress with no one to turn to. I doubt she’s got a penny in her pocket now, but with two jobs lined up she’ll soon be able to pay her way, and with Charlie gone, we could do with the money.’
‘We’re managing fine with what I bring in and the three boys and Diana paying their way.’
‘Haydn will be leaving when the Summer Variety ends.’
‘And we’ll survive, just like we did after Charlie left.’
‘Extra always comes in handy.’
‘I’ll not argue with that, but even if I did say yes, where’s the girl going to sleep? With Haydn downstairs, all the bedrooms full and Brian in the box room, there’s no room.’
‘The old cot Bethan used is big enough for Brian. He can come in with us for a week or two, and Jane can have the box room.’
Evan fell silent. Money and a place for Jane to sleep were minor considerations. Although the rag and bone round had never done as well as he would have liked, with his nephew and niece’s lodging money and his son Eddie in steady work they managed; not as well as some, but better than most. Haydn returning home had been an unexpected bonus. For the first time since the pits had closed he could look forward to setting a little aside against emergencies. Another lodger wouldn’t make much difference to the household, but another scandal would. He couldn’t bear the thought of people gossiping and prying into his private life just as he and Phyllis were quietly, and happily settled. But there was no denying the girl needed help.
‘Please, Evan?’
‘Until her wages come in. Not a day longer.’
‘Bless you, I knew you wouldn’t let me down.’ Phyllis hugged him before opening the washhouse door. ‘Jane, is seven and six a week for full board and lodge all right?’
The box room was seven foot by five. A single bed was pushed beneath the window. Alongside it, a chest of
‘If you don’t want me to go to the show, I won’t.’
‘That’s not the point, Evan Powell, and you know it.’
‘The point is we’re not in a position to take her in,’ he explained patiently, ‘Not when we’re living together without a wedding ring in sight, and she’s about to start work in a theatre that every preacher has banned his congregation from setting foot in. You know as well as I do what people in this town are going to say.’
‘Better than you, it seems,’ Phyllis’s voice rose precariously. ‘And I’d have thought that after some of the things this family has been through in the last couple of years, you wouldn’t give a damn what anyone says about you, or any other Powell.’
‘It’s not just us. There’s Diana to consider, and the girl herself.’
‘Diana’s got a lot more common sense than you when it comes to something like this. And as for Jane, if she’s found the courage to take a job in the Town Hall now, when the Revue’s playing, I hardly think she’s going to worry about a few gossips.’
‘I don’t think she has a clue what she’s got herself into. If she’s found and charged with being a recalcitrant pauper, she could end up in prison …’
‘All the more reason for us to take her in before she is found. Couldn’t we say that she’s my cousin from Church Village?’ Phyllis wheedled. ‘Let her stay, just until she gets her first week’s wages? Please?’
‘And if the workhouse finds out?’
‘How will they? They’re looking for a girl in a workhouse dress and clogs. Not an usherette. I hardly recognised her myself when she walked in. And you heard her, she told the man who hired her that we took her out of the workhouse.’
‘And if the Town Hall checks?’
‘They won’t. Not now they’ve taken her on. From what she said they’re only too glad to have someone who’s prepared to work at short notice.’
‘Phyllis …’
‘Please, Evan. It’s not that long ago I was in her shoes, wearing a workhouse dress with no one to turn to. I doubt she’s got a penny in her pocket now, but with two jobs lined up she’ll soon be able to pay her way, and with Charlie gone, we could do with the money.’
‘We’re managing fine with what I bring in and the three boys and Diana paying their way.’
‘Haydn will be leaving when the Summer Variety ends.’
‘And we’ll survive, just like we did after Charlie left.’
‘Extra always comes in handy.’
‘I’ll not argue with that, but even if I did say yes, where’s the girl going to sleep? With Haydn downstairs, all the bedrooms full and Brian in the box room, there’s no room.’
‘The old cot Bethan used is big enough for Brian. He can come in with us for a week or two, and Jane can have the box room.’
Evan fell silent. Money and a place for Jane to sleep were minor considerations. Although the rag and bone round had never done as well as he would have liked, with his nephew and niece’s lodging money and his son Eddie in steady work they managed; not as well as some, but better than most. Haydn returning home had been an unexpected bonus. For the first time since the pits had closed he could look forward to setting a little aside against emergencies. Another lodger wouldn’t make much difference to the household, but another scandal would. He couldn’t bear the thought of people gossiping and prying into his private life just as he and Phyllis were quietly, and happily settled. But there was no denying the girl needed help.
‘Please, Evan?’
‘Until her wages come in. Not a day longer.’
‘Bless you, I knew you wouldn’t let me down.’ Phyllis hugged him before opening the washhouse door. ‘Jane, is seven and six a week for full board and lodge all right?’
The box room was seven foot by five. A single bed was pushed beneath the window. Alongside it, a chest of
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