home and talk this matter over with the family. I think Master Roland should be advised of the situation. Could he possibly come home for a time? "
"I... I don't think so, unless the matter was very urgent."
"Well, as I see it, this matter is very urgent. But then it is up to you; the burden seems to have fallen on your shoulders. But you know my advice, sell the chandler's, and by doing so you will clear the
mortgage, and if the sale is propitious then there might be a little over to pay a little off some of the debts and help you along for the next few months. Anyway--' he again rose to his feet 'it is for you, or Master Roland, to make the final decision. And--' once more he was holding her hand 'with regard to your father and this unfortunate
business, try not to let it worry you too much. These things happen; unfortunately they happen all the time, but I can well understand what a shock the revelation has been to you. "
She wetted her lips twice before she asked, "Do you think many people are aware of, of the matter, I mean in the town?"
He veiled his eyes for a moment, then said, "Well I cannot but say truthfully there was some interest as to why he sold the hatter's and his share in the glove factory, but most of all why he got rid of the mill, and having done so still did not settle his debts in the town.
There were, I am afraid, rumours and guesses; but I don't think
anything concrete came to light. "
There was a pause before she said, "Thank you for your help, Mr.
Paine, I am very grateful. I will do as you suggest and . and think
the matter over with regard to, to explaining the situation to Roland, and I will call again if I may. "
"Anytime, anytime at all. Miss Crawford." He opened the door and himself led her across the outer office and showed her into the
corridor.
In the street once again, she stood for a moment looking towards the Abbey. She had in her mind arranged to go to the bookshop and see
Lawrence, as she secretly thought of
him, because she had felt in need of personal comfort and support.
But that was this morning. Looking back to this morning, her troubles then compared to those of the present seemed paltry, and what she
needed now was more than the comfort directed by a warm glance or a
clasp of the hand; what she needed now was someone's arms about her, a voice to say, "Don't worry, leave everything to me." And if she went to the shop she felt, in fact she was certain, that his arms would come out to her, but that this would only be after she told him the reason for her distress, for in the telling the social barrier which had kept them apart would be broken down.
But she couldn't do that . not at the moment she couldn't. Later,
when they knew each other better, then she would tell him as someone who was dose to her, and in the telling perhaps this awful feeling of hate that had come alive in her would dissolve.
She turned about and went towards the chandler's shop, and fifteen
minutes later she climbed into the trap and made for home.
It was Peg Thomycroft who greeted her as she stepped stiffly down into the yard.
"By! you look froze to the bone, Miss Martha Mary," she said.
"Eeh! you look like death on wires. Come on in an' get your things off. Leave him--' she jerked her head towards the horse " I'll get Nick to see to him in a minute; you get inside, miss. Eeh! you do
look froze. "
As Martha entered the kitchen, Peg yelled across the yard in a voice that seemed to come from someone three times her size, "You! You Nick there! You Nick! Come and see t'animal." Then hurrying into the kitchen where Dilly was now helping Martha off with her coat, she said,
"Eeh! Miss looks like death, doesn't she, Dilly?"
"Less of your chatter and brew some tea, an' strong."
Dilly did not question Martha now in any way, but, chaffing her stiff white fingers between her rough palms, she made a statement, "Them trains," she said! knew it, them trains. An' it's my bet you haven't had a
"I... I don't think so, unless the matter was very urgent."
"Well, as I see it, this matter is very urgent. But then it is up to you; the burden seems to have fallen on your shoulders. But you know my advice, sell the chandler's, and by doing so you will clear the
mortgage, and if the sale is propitious then there might be a little over to pay a little off some of the debts and help you along for the next few months. Anyway--' he again rose to his feet 'it is for you, or Master Roland, to make the final decision. And--' once more he was holding her hand 'with regard to your father and this unfortunate
business, try not to let it worry you too much. These things happen; unfortunately they happen all the time, but I can well understand what a shock the revelation has been to you. "
She wetted her lips twice before she asked, "Do you think many people are aware of, of the matter, I mean in the town?"
He veiled his eyes for a moment, then said, "Well I cannot but say truthfully there was some interest as to why he sold the hatter's and his share in the glove factory, but most of all why he got rid of the mill, and having done so still did not settle his debts in the town.
There were, I am afraid, rumours and guesses; but I don't think
anything concrete came to light. "
There was a pause before she said, "Thank you for your help, Mr.
Paine, I am very grateful. I will do as you suggest and . and think
the matter over with regard to, to explaining the situation to Roland, and I will call again if I may. "
"Anytime, anytime at all. Miss Crawford." He opened the door and himself led her across the outer office and showed her into the
corridor.
In the street once again, she stood for a moment looking towards the Abbey. She had in her mind arranged to go to the bookshop and see
Lawrence, as she secretly thought of
him, because she had felt in need of personal comfort and support.
But that was this morning. Looking back to this morning, her troubles then compared to those of the present seemed paltry, and what she
needed now was more than the comfort directed by a warm glance or a
clasp of the hand; what she needed now was someone's arms about her, a voice to say, "Don't worry, leave everything to me." And if she went to the shop she felt, in fact she was certain, that his arms would come out to her, but that this would only be after she told him the reason for her distress, for in the telling the social barrier which had kept them apart would be broken down.
But she couldn't do that . not at the moment she couldn't. Later,
when they knew each other better, then she would tell him as someone who was dose to her, and in the telling perhaps this awful feeling of hate that had come alive in her would dissolve.
She turned about and went towards the chandler's shop, and fifteen
minutes later she climbed into the trap and made for home.
It was Peg Thomycroft who greeted her as she stepped stiffly down into the yard.
"By! you look froze to the bone, Miss Martha Mary," she said.
"Eeh! you look like death on wires. Come on in an' get your things off. Leave him--' she jerked her head towards the horse " I'll get Nick to see to him in a minute; you get inside, miss. Eeh! you do
look froze. "
As Martha entered the kitchen, Peg yelled across the yard in a voice that seemed to come from someone three times her size, "You! You Nick there! You Nick! Come and see t'animal." Then hurrying into the kitchen where Dilly was now helping Martha off with her coat, she said,
"Eeh! Miss looks like death, doesn't she, Dilly?"
"Less of your chatter and brew some tea, an' strong."
Dilly did not question Martha now in any way, but, chaffing her stiff white fingers between her rough palms, she made a statement, "Them trains," she said! knew it, them trains. An' it's my bet you haven't had a
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