A Place of Birds by Jane Jackson

Author:Jane Jackson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781909335080
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2013-12-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Worship over, people moved about the hall greeting one another.

‘Susanna, see if you can catch Frances before she takes Mrs Webber home, will you, dear?’ Maria turned to join a group of women talking in hushed tones.

Catching the word ‘Overseers’ Susanna sympathised with the person about to be investigated. Glimpsing her sister she eased through the crowd. Having no desire to speak to Mrs Webber she approached from behind and spoke softly.

‘Fran, mother would like a quick word before you go.’ As they moved away Mrs Webber, with astonishing speed and dexterity, reversed her walking stick and hooked the handle around Susanna’s forearm, yanking her to a halt. ‘One moment, miss. I want a word with you. Go and see what your mother wants, Frances. But don’t be long. Richard has gone to call a cab and will be waiting for us. Go on.’ After a brief anxious hesitation Frances hurried away.

‘Keep away from my daughter-in-law,’ Mrs Webber commanded. ‘She’s a good biddable girl, and I don’t want her head filled with any of your foolish nonsense. You’re a bad influence. It’s only out of respect for your parents that Visitors haven’t been appointed to make a report on your behaviour.’ Susanna stared at the crow-like woman. Dressed in unrelieved black, her plain white bonnet framing features furrowed by years of discontent, Mrs Webber’s beady eyes were sharp with spite.

‘Tell me, Mrs Webber, what have I done to make you dislike me so?’

After a momentary widening the eyes narrowed to glittering slits. ‘Don’t you give me any of your cheek, miss. You’re an affront to decent Quaker womanhood. First it was the Seamen’s Home, then flaunting yourself in your father’s office. Now I’m told you’re down at Braithwaite’s Yard. It’s disgusting, that’s what it is. Disgusting! Stay away from Frances, do you hear? She has a husband to take care of, which is more than you’ll ever have.’

Shaking her arm free of the polished wood Susanna walked blindly to the door, and bumped into Lucy.

‘Are you all right?’

Taking a deep breath Susanna nodded.

‘Mrs Webber?’

‘Why, Lucy?’

‘People fear what they do not understand. Be strong, my dear.’

Susanna made a muffled sound that was half laugh, half choking sob. ‘I’m tired.’

Meredith bustled up, scarcely able to contain her excitement. ‘Has Lucy told you? We’ve had a letter.’ She pressed a hand to her bolster-like bosom, her features suddenly tragic. ‘So sad. And the baby too. God does make great demands on his servants.’

Susanna looked helplessly at Lucy who explained.

‘Mr Hudson Taylor’s wife died in Chinkiang on the 23rd of July. Apparently she’d had consumption of the lungs for some time. Her illness worsened during the summer. Then, just before the birth of her eighth child she suffered an attack of cholera which drained the last of her strength.’

‘Poor little mite,’ Meredith’s eyes filled. ‘He lived barely two weeks. Maybe if they’d got him a wet-nurse …’

‘Why didn’t they?’ Susanna asked.

Lucy’s gaze was unflinching. ‘They tried. But because of the anger against foreigners, especially the English, no Chinese would offer.

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