that she noticed by the train’s dim light that Daisy was wearing black.
‘I’m sorry, lass, I didn’t notice you were in mourning. Lose anyone close, darling?’ She hesitated for a moment.
‘My husband. I lost my husband three weeks ago. I’m just getting over the funeral and realizing I’m a widow.’ Daisy could feel a lump in her throat as the word
‘husband’ caught in her mouth.
‘Oh, doll, I’m sorry. There’s me telling you to paint yourself up, and there’s you grieving. I just don’t know when to shut my mouth, that’s my
problem.’ Susie leaned over and took hold of Daisy’s hand. ‘Tell me all about it; we’ve a while before we get into Leeds.’
Daisy looked at her companion. It was the first time anyone had shown her any concern since the funeral. Life had needed to carry on as usual at Gearstones Lodge, and there was no time to feel
maudlin. There had been meals to prepare and rooms to clean, and no one had time to listen to a simpering cook. Death was an everyday fact, and you just knew to get on with your lot. Now it was
like unleashing a flood barrier, as Daisy told this complete stranger the story of the last few months and why she was on the train.
‘Well, girl, I don’t speak ill of the dead, but perhaps it was a blessing. He’d a’ been a sod to live with, and his mother . . . You see, that’s why I play the
stage. I don’t want to be pinned down by anyone.’ Susie sat back into the shadows of the carriage.
‘Are you on the stage? You keep saying you are.’ It was Daisy’s turn to ask the questions.
‘Isn’t everyone, darling? Aren’t we all on the stage of life? Some, perhaps, are in the spotlight more than others. Now tell me, where are you stopping tonight, and do you know
where you’re going in the morning?’
‘Nay, I’ve no idea where I’ll rest my head tonight. I nearly turned back just before you got on the train, because I suddenly realized how foolish I’d been.’ Daisy
was feeling vulnerable and silly, for already she realized that she had underestimated the size of Leeds and the number of people who lived there. What on earth was she thinking of?
‘Have you any money? Because, girl, I’ll get you into lodgings tonight, and I know my plot fairly well. I’ll point you in the right direction for your job. And for the
Lord’s sake, drop the “nay” if you’re going to make it here. You don’t want folk thinking you are off the first train from up north, in no-man’s-land.’
‘It’s not up north, it’s down, if you work on t’ railway.’ Daisy quickly remembered what Bert had said in the signal box that day, which seemed so long ago.
‘And I’m not changing how I talk for anyone.’
‘You talk daft. North’s up. You’ll soon change your twang anyway, when you’ve been with us a while. Now, am I to sort you some lodgings?’
‘If you can. I’ll stand on my own two feet tomorrow. I’ll find my way to my new employer in the morning.’
‘Going into service ain’t my idea of a job, but as long as you’re happy.’
Susie stood up as the train jolted over the many track points and swayed back and forward, making her adjust her balance. Steam entered the coach as she pulled on the leather strap to open the
window. She then leaned out to open the door as it slowed down alongside the platform.
‘Come on, girl, look sharp. It’s a walk down the platform.’
First, Daisy put her head out of the doorway and looked around her. It was early evening, but the station was beginning to be lit by an amber glow from the gas-lights that illuminated the great
glass-roofed station. She stepped out of the train and stopped at the edge of the steps, her mouth open. All those platforms, all those people, and they were walking so fast, with tiny steps, not
the big long strides of home, but small, quick movements. She looked at the flower-sellers and paper-boys yelling their trade, and yet it was nearly the end of the day. Horses
‘I’m sorry, lass, I didn’t notice you were in mourning. Lose anyone close, darling?’ She hesitated for a moment.
‘My husband. I lost my husband three weeks ago. I’m just getting over the funeral and realizing I’m a widow.’ Daisy could feel a lump in her throat as the word
‘husband’ caught in her mouth.
‘Oh, doll, I’m sorry. There’s me telling you to paint yourself up, and there’s you grieving. I just don’t know when to shut my mouth, that’s my
problem.’ Susie leaned over and took hold of Daisy’s hand. ‘Tell me all about it; we’ve a while before we get into Leeds.’
Daisy looked at her companion. It was the first time anyone had shown her any concern since the funeral. Life had needed to carry on as usual at Gearstones Lodge, and there was no time to feel
maudlin. There had been meals to prepare and rooms to clean, and no one had time to listen to a simpering cook. Death was an everyday fact, and you just knew to get on with your lot. Now it was
like unleashing a flood barrier, as Daisy told this complete stranger the story of the last few months and why she was on the train.
‘Well, girl, I don’t speak ill of the dead, but perhaps it was a blessing. He’d a’ been a sod to live with, and his mother . . . You see, that’s why I play the
stage. I don’t want to be pinned down by anyone.’ Susie sat back into the shadows of the carriage.
‘Are you on the stage? You keep saying you are.’ It was Daisy’s turn to ask the questions.
‘Isn’t everyone, darling? Aren’t we all on the stage of life? Some, perhaps, are in the spotlight more than others. Now tell me, where are you stopping tonight, and do you know
where you’re going in the morning?’
‘Nay, I’ve no idea where I’ll rest my head tonight. I nearly turned back just before you got on the train, because I suddenly realized how foolish I’d been.’ Daisy
was feeling vulnerable and silly, for already she realized that she had underestimated the size of Leeds and the number of people who lived there. What on earth was she thinking of?
‘Have you any money? Because, girl, I’ll get you into lodgings tonight, and I know my plot fairly well. I’ll point you in the right direction for your job. And for the
Lord’s sake, drop the “nay” if you’re going to make it here. You don’t want folk thinking you are off the first train from up north, in no-man’s-land.’
‘It’s not up north, it’s down, if you work on t’ railway.’ Daisy quickly remembered what Bert had said in the signal box that day, which seemed so long ago.
‘And I’m not changing how I talk for anyone.’
‘You talk daft. North’s up. You’ll soon change your twang anyway, when you’ve been with us a while. Now, am I to sort you some lodgings?’
‘If you can. I’ll stand on my own two feet tomorrow. I’ll find my way to my new employer in the morning.’
‘Going into service ain’t my idea of a job, but as long as you’re happy.’
Susie stood up as the train jolted over the many track points and swayed back and forward, making her adjust her balance. Steam entered the coach as she pulled on the leather strap to open the
window. She then leaned out to open the door as it slowed down alongside the platform.
‘Come on, girl, look sharp. It’s a walk down the platform.’
First, Daisy put her head out of the doorway and looked around her. It was early evening, but the station was beginning to be lit by an amber glow from the gas-lights that illuminated the great
glass-roofed station. She stepped out of the train and stopped at the edge of the steps, her mouth open. All those platforms, all those people, and they were walking so fast, with tiny steps, not
the big long strides of home, but small, quick movements. She looked at the flower-sellers and paper-boys yelling their trade, and yet it was nearly the end of the day. Horses
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