sister.`
Daniel noted that Pattie did not exclaim, as many another young woman would have done, Oh, go on with you! She just looked at her husband and smiled; in fact, they smiled at each other. Then John said,
`Well now, I have an hour and fifteen minutes: I propose we eat for fifteen minutes and talk for the rest.`
`Well, I don't mind eating for fifteen minutes, and I am quite willing to listen for an hour ...`
John Watson did take up most of the hour in talking, his topics ranging from prime ministers and their politics to women's rights, and when Pattie said, `Your pudding's getting cold, dear,` he paused for a while before starting again and saying, `Women have been treated abominably over the years, Daniel.
They haven't been able to call their soul their own: even the clothes on their back belonged to the husband. But that's all changed now because the new law means that, in the future, a married woman owns what is hers by right.`
Again Pattie interrupted John's flow. `Would you like tea or coffee, Dan?`
`Coffee, if you don't mind, Pattie.`
`How's the farm going?` John asked, having interpreted the cue from Pattie that he had monopolised the conversation long enough.
`Not as well as farms should go, John.`
Àre you going to stay on there?`
Ì can't see me doing anything else in the near future. Quite candidly, Father's not the only one who's waiting for Moira to come into her money, because I am, too. Then I may be able to make a change and start a life of my own.`
They drank the coffee in the sitting-room, the conversation being general until it was time for John to leave.
He shook Daniel's hand warmly, saying, `You must be in town every now and again, so pop in, and if this door's shut come round to my people's; that one's always open. They take in stray dogs, cats, beggars, so they wouldn't mind a young strapping farmer.`
`Go on with you,` Pattie pushed 135 her husband towards the door, and Daniel noted that they stood for some time in the narrow passage before she returned to the room, saying, `That's John. So you can understand how I'm enjoying my new life.`
`Yes, he's a very interesting man, a highly intelligent one and a modest one into the bargain. Such men are rare.`
`That's the word, Daniel, rare. He doesn't know his own value.`
`Well, he knows your value.`
Ì'm very lucky. I get fearful at nights at how lucky I've been, when I think that I might have been stuck in that house for the rest of my life because I had no assets except my mind.`
Òh, Pattie, don't be silly. You are attractive; always have been.`
She smiled softly at him and as he looked at her he marvelled at the change in her, the all-round change.
After a moment he said, Ì too will have to be going because I have some shopping to do; little bits of things for the children.` Then bowing his head, he said, Ì'm sorry, Pattie, I haven't got a present for you. Quite candidly I haven't any money at all. He never gives me a penny. I've got to rely on Moira slipping me something. Whether he gives money to her with the intention that she should give me some kind of allowance, I don't know. Of course, I'm only doing half time on the farm; the rest is with the children. But still, during those three days I'm working hour for hour with the men.
We'll have to have a showdown soon, or else I'll feel bound to make a move, in spite of Moira's pleadings. I wouldn't be there now if it wasn't for her.`
`You want to face up to him and tell him you're going to walk out unless he gives you a wage of some kind.`
Ìf I face up to him it'll mean another row and we'll likely come to more blows.`
He picked up his overcoat from a chair, and as he did so she opened a drawer and took out a parcel.
Ìt's nothing really,` she said as she gave it to him, ànd you'll find it full of mistakes. Believe it or not, I knitted it. It's what Moira would call a gansey.`
Òh, thank you, my dear. Thank you.Ànd Daniel felt a great tenderness for her when,
Daniel noted that Pattie did not exclaim, as many another young woman would have done, Oh, go on with you! She just looked at her husband and smiled; in fact, they smiled at each other. Then John said,
`Well now, I have an hour and fifteen minutes: I propose we eat for fifteen minutes and talk for the rest.`
`Well, I don't mind eating for fifteen minutes, and I am quite willing to listen for an hour ...`
John Watson did take up most of the hour in talking, his topics ranging from prime ministers and their politics to women's rights, and when Pattie said, `Your pudding's getting cold, dear,` he paused for a while before starting again and saying, `Women have been treated abominably over the years, Daniel.
They haven't been able to call their soul their own: even the clothes on their back belonged to the husband. But that's all changed now because the new law means that, in the future, a married woman owns what is hers by right.`
Again Pattie interrupted John's flow. `Would you like tea or coffee, Dan?`
`Coffee, if you don't mind, Pattie.`
`How's the farm going?` John asked, having interpreted the cue from Pattie that he had monopolised the conversation long enough.
`Not as well as farms should go, John.`
Àre you going to stay on there?`
Ì can't see me doing anything else in the near future. Quite candidly, Father's not the only one who's waiting for Moira to come into her money, because I am, too. Then I may be able to make a change and start a life of my own.`
They drank the coffee in the sitting-room, the conversation being general until it was time for John to leave.
He shook Daniel's hand warmly, saying, `You must be in town every now and again, so pop in, and if this door's shut come round to my people's; that one's always open. They take in stray dogs, cats, beggars, so they wouldn't mind a young strapping farmer.`
`Go on with you,` Pattie pushed 135 her husband towards the door, and Daniel noted that they stood for some time in the narrow passage before she returned to the room, saying, `That's John. So you can understand how I'm enjoying my new life.`
`Yes, he's a very interesting man, a highly intelligent one and a modest one into the bargain. Such men are rare.`
`That's the word, Daniel, rare. He doesn't know his own value.`
`Well, he knows your value.`
Ì'm very lucky. I get fearful at nights at how lucky I've been, when I think that I might have been stuck in that house for the rest of my life because I had no assets except my mind.`
Òh, Pattie, don't be silly. You are attractive; always have been.`
She smiled softly at him and as he looked at her he marvelled at the change in her, the all-round change.
After a moment he said, Ì too will have to be going because I have some shopping to do; little bits of things for the children.` Then bowing his head, he said, Ì'm sorry, Pattie, I haven't got a present for you. Quite candidly I haven't any money at all. He never gives me a penny. I've got to rely on Moira slipping me something. Whether he gives money to her with the intention that she should give me some kind of allowance, I don't know. Of course, I'm only doing half time on the farm; the rest is with the children. But still, during those three days I'm working hour for hour with the men.
We'll have to have a showdown soon, or else I'll feel bound to make a move, in spite of Moira's pleadings. I wouldn't be there now if it wasn't for her.`
`You want to face up to him and tell him you're going to walk out unless he gives you a wage of some kind.`
Ìf I face up to him it'll mean another row and we'll likely come to more blows.`
He picked up his overcoat from a chair, and as he did so she opened a drawer and took out a parcel.
Ìt's nothing really,` she said as she gave it to him, ànd you'll find it full of mistakes. Believe it or not, I knitted it. It's what Moira would call a gansey.`
Òh, thank you, my dear. Thank you.Ànd Daniel felt a great tenderness for her when,
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