Catherine Cookson by Miss Mary Martha Crawford

Author:Miss Mary Martha Crawford
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-08-27T22:40:53+00:00

CHAPTER TWO

it was the end of March and the wind was still sheathed in ice; it raged round the house and penetrated the warped window frames, the doors and the chimneys; particularly the chimneys, for it whirled down the drawing-room one and blew the smoke all over Mr. Paine and made him cough. And Harry, too, coughed for he was sitting straight opposite the fireplace. Roland who was sitting to the left of him did not cough but turned his head away while the three girls to the right of him bowed their heads and made small noises in their throats. Mr.

Paine's bout of coughing over, he now cast his glance about them all as he said, "It would appear that I never visit you except on sad occasions, yet I am very pleased to say there's a little brightness attached to this particular one. The deceased, Miss Lilian Thompson, who worked as a servant in this house from when she was a young girl did not forget the kindnesses shown to her, particularly by you Miss Martha."

Martha looked straight back through the pale grey atmosphere at Mr.

Paine. She knew what was coming and she felt a deep embarrassment, but it was not untouched with excitement. Dear Dilly had left her her savings, and no matter how small they might be they would be the means of alleviating the financial stress which at present was more than ever weighing on the house.

"Miss Thompson confided her wishes on this matter to Doctor Fuller' Mr.

Paine inclined his head towards Harry 'and the doctor, after writing down her wishes, brought the document to me, because he was not sure of its legality as she | was unfortunately only able to make her mark with a cross. I was able to point out that this being so a witness would be

needed and as, you may remember, I happened to be passing this way when the doctor was calling, together we made the document legal. " He now exchanged a penetrating look with Harry before saying, " Isn't that so, doctor? "

Yes, Mr. Paine. "

"Well, now, there are no complications in this will, so I shall read what it says." He now lifted up the sheet of ordinary paper and read:

I, Lily Thompson, who am in my right mind and, having no relatives of my own left upon this earth, leave my life savings, which are in a tin box under my bed, to Martha Mary Crawford, who I helped bring into the world, and who has been like my own since, and who is now lovingly seeing me out of it.

Two wishes I will make: first, that she spend most of the money on herself, and second, that she give to Peg Thomycroft ten pounds.

Signed this fourth day of February, 1880.

Martha's chin was now on her chest and all she could think was, Oh Dilly, Dilly. And there returned to her the feeling she'd experienced as she washed and dressed Dilly for the last time that she had lost the only friend she had on earth.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.