The Miner’s Girl by Maggie Hope Page B

honest with himself he wouldn’t have acknowledged he was the father. And of all the bad luck for the lad to grow up with such a striking likeness to Tom – and himself, of course, when he was younger, but that wouldn’t have mattered as people forgot what one looked like thirty years ago.
    ‘Father? Are you all right?’
    Tom’s voice broke into his racing thoughts. Miles got up abruptly and put his coffee cup on the tray.
    ‘Yes, of course I’m all right. Her brother has disappeared, you say? Well, he’s probably run off to sea, you know what these pit lads are like. Wild, you know. You’ve met them no doubt in your practice.’
    ‘She says he would not do that. He wouldn’t go without at the very least leaving her a note. I gather theyare very close, those two. It probably comes from them growing up the only children in a deserted village.’
    ‘Well, none of it is your business. I’ve always said that nothing would come of your practising in a mining village. Now, forget about this girl, and mix with your own kind. I’ve told you before, find a town practice and I’ll help you with the cost. Why don’t you find a suitable girl to marry? A doctor needs a wife if he wants to get on.’
    ‘I’m happy working in Winton Colliery, Father. It is what I want to do.’
    Miles lost his temper. ‘Well I forbid you to talk to that pit lass! And don’t ever give her a ride in your trap again, especially not where you might be seen by gentlefolk. I won’t have people talking.’
    ‘I’m afraid you’re not in a position to forbid me to do anything,’ said Tom calmly.
    ‘Am I not, begod! You ungrateful young whelp, I’ve given you everything! You’re living in my house and while you do so you will do as I say, do you hear me?’
    There was a knock at the door and Polly opened it but was stopped in her tracks by a bellow from Miles. ‘Get out!’ She went in a hurry.
    ‘I couldn’t get the coffee tray,’ she told Cook. ‘The master wouldn’t let me in. They’re having a row in there.’
    ‘Well, girl,’ snapped Cook. ‘Get on with your work, you can help Edna upstairs. It’s nothing to do with you whether they’re having a row or not.’
    Polly sniffed and left the kitchen. She would have a nice gossip with Edna over the beds, she thought. Cook could get so uppity sometimes.
    In the study Tom drew himself up and stared levelly at his father. ‘I can move out anytime, Father,’ he said. ‘I will not be told how to run my life; I am no longer a boy.’
    ‘Go then,’ said Miles. ‘You’ve been nothing but a disappointment and embarrassment to me in any case.’
    ‘If that’s how you feel I’ll go today,’ said Tom.
    ‘Do that.’
    Miles heard himself say the words but he could hardly believe he was doing so. How had things escalated to this? He didn’t want Tom to go, not really. But he was so stubborn, just as his mother had been. He had his mother’s temperament even if he did look like his father.
    ‘I will. If you’ll allow me time to pack a bag. I’ll send for the rest of my stuff when I’m settled.’
    Ten minutes later as he stood at the window and watched Tom drive out of the gates and turn towards the town, Miles felt very sorry for himself. The lad had provoked him, it was true, but if he himself hadn’t been so worked up and worried about the other one – for a moment he saw his face vividly, the eyes closed, a bruise forming on his temple, and he shivered. He didn’t want Tom to move out – the house was too big for one man torattle around in. There was the staff of course, but they were not company. Tom was his son and his heir and he ought to do what his father wanted.
    Miles sat down in his chair again. He was supposed to be going to call on Bertha but he’d never felt less like doing anything.
    Merry stood on the patch of grass that surrounded the old ventilation shaft watching the party of men and boys milling around. They had rigged up a rope ladder and a lad