have no work. They have meetings in the old barn and a Sunday school and—’
‘Is that where you’re spending all your time?’
‘Miss Holmes gives the miners’ children tea in their farmhouse. They’ve cleaned it up and put in a cooking range like ours. You should see it, Father.’
‘They’re radicals, preaching all sorts of ideas to my labourers. I’ll not have you going there, do you hear?’ His father had raised his voice.
‘They’re not all radicals. Some just want to help.’
‘How, though? By stirring up trouble?’
Jared was annoyed at his father’s assumptions and responded angrily: ‘By feeding starving children!’
His father narrowed his eyes. ‘I know some do charitable work, but so does the church and we’re church folk. What would your mother say? I don’t want you involved with them.’
He wished he hadn’t started this conversation now.‘You don’t know them,’ he replied.
‘I know that being rebellious is part of growing up for you,’ his father snapped.
‘Well, I’m old enough to make up my own mind.’
‘No, you’re not! You stop this right now, my lad. You do as you’re told and behave yourself or I’ll give you the whipping of your life.’
Jared didn’t care about a whipping. He’d been hardened to those at school. But he was angry that his father had judged him and his new friends so harshly. He’d only made his situation worse by trying to discuss it. He heaved a sigh and muttered, ‘Yes, Father.’
His father nodded and pursed his lips. ‘Good. Now we’ll go into the drawing room together and listen to your sisters play their new piece. Your mother has something to say to you as well.’
Josephina and Juliana sang and played. They were attractive to look at and, although a little younger than he was, they were growing up fast. As he was. Jared realized that he would be as watchful as Sarah’s brothers about anyone who came courting them.
‘Excellent,’ his father said, when they had finished.‘We’ll have some jolly evenings this winter, to be sure. Now, Caroline, my dear, tell the children about our invitation.’
His mother beamed at them. ‘We are going to your uncle Hesley’s for our Christmas feast. He has written to invite us and I have said yes.’
‘Uncle Hesley’s? Why? You don’t like him.’
‘Jared!’ His father scowled.
‘Well, it’s true that I do not approve of the life he leads,’ his mother said, ‘but he is my half-brother and we are the only family he has outside Hill Top House. He wishes us all to be together for the festivities. I believe that, since his troubles at the pit and his injuries, he may have reformed a little. His grandson has finished at the university, and Hesley tells me he has engaged a governess for Cousin Olivia. He knows that I worry about her. I should think he wants to show us how well he can look after her.’
‘More likely he wants to borrow money from Father,’ Jared muttered.
When his father gave him a dark look but did not chastise him again, Jared knew he had been right.
His father said, ‘I haven’t any to lend him. He had a fright over the bank failure, so perhaps he has come to realize how important his family is to him. To all of us. I am sure that is why he is being so generous this festive season. So,’ his father stood up, ‘we shall make a special effort to be united, for your mother’s sake and for little Olivia.’
‘How old is she now?’
‘Thirteen. A year younger than Juliana. I shall offer to bring her here to stay with us for a while. She must be lonely there and my daughters will be good company for her.’
Chapter 8
The following afternoon, governess and pupil were walking in the pasture above Hill Top House.A fresh breeze was blowing and they could see the smoking chimneys of the ironworks in the distant valley.The town was spreading, with rows of cottages to house labourers for its prospering manufactories.The master’s pit was out of sight, on
‘Is that where you’re spending all your time?’
‘Miss Holmes gives the miners’ children tea in their farmhouse. They’ve cleaned it up and put in a cooking range like ours. You should see it, Father.’
‘They’re radicals, preaching all sorts of ideas to my labourers. I’ll not have you going there, do you hear?’ His father had raised his voice.
‘They’re not all radicals. Some just want to help.’
‘How, though? By stirring up trouble?’
Jared was annoyed at his father’s assumptions and responded angrily: ‘By feeding starving children!’
His father narrowed his eyes. ‘I know some do charitable work, but so does the church and we’re church folk. What would your mother say? I don’t want you involved with them.’
He wished he hadn’t started this conversation now.‘You don’t know them,’ he replied.
‘I know that being rebellious is part of growing up for you,’ his father snapped.
‘Well, I’m old enough to make up my own mind.’
‘No, you’re not! You stop this right now, my lad. You do as you’re told and behave yourself or I’ll give you the whipping of your life.’
Jared didn’t care about a whipping. He’d been hardened to those at school. But he was angry that his father had judged him and his new friends so harshly. He’d only made his situation worse by trying to discuss it. He heaved a sigh and muttered, ‘Yes, Father.’
His father nodded and pursed his lips. ‘Good. Now we’ll go into the drawing room together and listen to your sisters play their new piece. Your mother has something to say to you as well.’
Josephina and Juliana sang and played. They were attractive to look at and, although a little younger than he was, they were growing up fast. As he was. Jared realized that he would be as watchful as Sarah’s brothers about anyone who came courting them.
‘Excellent,’ his father said, when they had finished.‘We’ll have some jolly evenings this winter, to be sure. Now, Caroline, my dear, tell the children about our invitation.’
His mother beamed at them. ‘We are going to your uncle Hesley’s for our Christmas feast. He has written to invite us and I have said yes.’
‘Uncle Hesley’s? Why? You don’t like him.’
‘Jared!’ His father scowled.
‘Well, it’s true that I do not approve of the life he leads,’ his mother said, ‘but he is my half-brother and we are the only family he has outside Hill Top House. He wishes us all to be together for the festivities. I believe that, since his troubles at the pit and his injuries, he may have reformed a little. His grandson has finished at the university, and Hesley tells me he has engaged a governess for Cousin Olivia. He knows that I worry about her. I should think he wants to show us how well he can look after her.’
‘More likely he wants to borrow money from Father,’ Jared muttered.
When his father gave him a dark look but did not chastise him again, Jared knew he had been right.
His father said, ‘I haven’t any to lend him. He had a fright over the bank failure, so perhaps he has come to realize how important his family is to him. To all of us. I am sure that is why he is being so generous this festive season. So,’ his father stood up, ‘we shall make a special effort to be united, for your mother’s sake and for little Olivia.’
‘How old is she now?’
‘Thirteen. A year younger than Juliana. I shall offer to bring her here to stay with us for a while. She must be lonely there and my daughters will be good company for her.’
Chapter 8
The following afternoon, governess and pupil were walking in the pasture above Hill Top House.A fresh breeze was blowing and they could see the smoking chimneys of the ironworks in the distant valley.The town was spreading, with rows of cottages to house labourers for its prospering manufactories.The master’s pit was out of sight, on
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