particular Caerdovey. She hated Gwen.
She hated the food, which had in fact been very nice, especially the cake, and shed eaten every mouthful. She hated everything and everybody.
There, there, Queenie soothed, wanting to cry every bit as much. Then Hester had joined in the tears, and shed had to flit from bed to bed, telling them theyd soon get used to it.
Anyroad, arent your mams coming to see you in a few weeks time? And on Monday, youll be going to school, she said comfortingly, Therell be loads of children there from Bootle. Two girls from Glover Street were on the coach with us.
Eventually, they fell asleep, worn out, and Queenie was left to sit on the bed with her own thoughts. Laura had given her some books to read The Railway Children, Little Women and Good Wives but the curtains were drawn and she didnt want to turn on the amazing electric light and risk disturbing the girls.
She hugged her knees and almost wished her mam hadnt gone away, that shed never met Laura, and her life was back the way it had always been, but the feeling quickly passed. She threw back her shoulders. From now on, she would have to be very brave, very strong, and watch over her charges, make sure they came to no harm.
She got up and changed into one of the pretty nightdresses Vera had bought. It was white wincyette with a pattern of rosebuds and rather stiff. Vera had said it would go soft when it was washed, but there hadnt been time before they left Bootle. There were no hangers in the wardrobe, so she neatly folded her clothes and put them in a drawer. About to get into bed, she heard voices downstairs, so went over to the door, making no sound in her bare feet, opened it carefully, and crept out on to the landing.
The inside of The Old School House, what Queenie had seen of it so far, was made entirely of wood. Except for the kitchen, everywhere else, the floors, the walls, the ceilings, was lined with strips of natural wood, turned darker by the years so that they were now a dingy oatmeal colour. It was like being inside a great big tree. There were no carpets anywhere, no mats, no lino, not even on the two sets of stairs; the little narrow staircase that led from the kitchen, which the girls had used, or the much wider one in the hall.
Queenie peeped through the banisters and saw a very broad woman with a tough, mannish face, wearing a severely tailored costume and heavy, lace-up shoes, talking to Gwen Hughes. Gwens shoulders were bowed and she looked dejected, as if she were expecting a tongue lashing. Queenie knew exactly how she felt, having been in receipt of many herself in her short life.
Three! the woman spat. You should have refused to take them.
I couldnt very well, Mrs Merton. Edna Davies said we could have had more. And as she pointed out, theyre all nice girls, well-dressed and clean, like. The older ones got something wrong with her arm.
I dont care how nice they are, Mrs Merton said brutally in her hard, gruff voice. I dont like strangers in my house. Where have you put them?
In one of the corner rooms at the back, Gwen said humbly.
Well, make sure theyre kept out of my way. They must use the back stairs and stay in the kitchen. I dont want them in this part of the house, do you understand?
Yes, Mrs Merton. Gwen shuffled away, Mrs Merton disappeared into one of the rooms at the front, and Queenie went to bed, wishing she hadnt eavesdropped. It had made her feel more miserable than ever.
When she woke, it was barely light and Hester and Mary were dead to the world.
Queenie knew she wouldnt fall asleep again, she felt too wide awake. She knelt on the bed, lifted a corner of blackout, and peered through the window. To her astonishment, she could see a vast expanse of water, glistening dully in the early morning glow, stretching as far as the eye could see, and preceded by a strip of flat, golden sand.
She hadnt known
She hated the food, which had in fact been very nice, especially the cake, and shed eaten every mouthful. She hated everything and everybody.
There, there, Queenie soothed, wanting to cry every bit as much. Then Hester had joined in the tears, and shed had to flit from bed to bed, telling them theyd soon get used to it.
Anyroad, arent your mams coming to see you in a few weeks time? And on Monday, youll be going to school, she said comfortingly, Therell be loads of children there from Bootle. Two girls from Glover Street were on the coach with us.
Eventually, they fell asleep, worn out, and Queenie was left to sit on the bed with her own thoughts. Laura had given her some books to read The Railway Children, Little Women and Good Wives but the curtains were drawn and she didnt want to turn on the amazing electric light and risk disturbing the girls.
She hugged her knees and almost wished her mam hadnt gone away, that shed never met Laura, and her life was back the way it had always been, but the feeling quickly passed. She threw back her shoulders. From now on, she would have to be very brave, very strong, and watch over her charges, make sure they came to no harm.
She got up and changed into one of the pretty nightdresses Vera had bought. It was white wincyette with a pattern of rosebuds and rather stiff. Vera had said it would go soft when it was washed, but there hadnt been time before they left Bootle. There were no hangers in the wardrobe, so she neatly folded her clothes and put them in a drawer. About to get into bed, she heard voices downstairs, so went over to the door, making no sound in her bare feet, opened it carefully, and crept out on to the landing.
The inside of The Old School House, what Queenie had seen of it so far, was made entirely of wood. Except for the kitchen, everywhere else, the floors, the walls, the ceilings, was lined with strips of natural wood, turned darker by the years so that they were now a dingy oatmeal colour. It was like being inside a great big tree. There were no carpets anywhere, no mats, no lino, not even on the two sets of stairs; the little narrow staircase that led from the kitchen, which the girls had used, or the much wider one in the hall.
Queenie peeped through the banisters and saw a very broad woman with a tough, mannish face, wearing a severely tailored costume and heavy, lace-up shoes, talking to Gwen Hughes. Gwens shoulders were bowed and she looked dejected, as if she were expecting a tongue lashing. Queenie knew exactly how she felt, having been in receipt of many herself in her short life.
Three! the woman spat. You should have refused to take them.
I couldnt very well, Mrs Merton. Edna Davies said we could have had more. And as she pointed out, theyre all nice girls, well-dressed and clean, like. The older ones got something wrong with her arm.
I dont care how nice they are, Mrs Merton said brutally in her hard, gruff voice. I dont like strangers in my house. Where have you put them?
In one of the corner rooms at the back, Gwen said humbly.
Well, make sure theyre kept out of my way. They must use the back stairs and stay in the kitchen. I dont want them in this part of the house, do you understand?
Yes, Mrs Merton. Gwen shuffled away, Mrs Merton disappeared into one of the rooms at the front, and Queenie went to bed, wishing she hadnt eavesdropped. It had made her feel more miserable than ever.
When she woke, it was barely light and Hester and Mary were dead to the world.
Queenie knew she wouldnt fall asleep again, she felt too wide awake. She knelt on the bed, lifted a corner of blackout, and peered through the window. To her astonishment, she could see a vast expanse of water, glistening dully in the early morning glow, stretching as far as the eye could see, and preceded by a strip of flat, golden sand.
She hadnt known
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