Catherine Cookson by The Black Candle

Author:The Black Candle
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-08-27T22:40:49+00:00

PART FOURThe Reckoning1903

'Why don't you say you love me?''Now don't start that again.''I will. I'll keep on and on as I have done for years.''You talk as if you were an old woman and you've just left school a month.''And you talk like an old man and you're still at school, or you're going to school, for what is Cambridge but school?'He turned from her now and walked towards a tree and pressed a hand against the trunk as if to support himself, and from there he said, *I may not go to Cambridge.*She almost sprang to his side.'Don't be silly! It's all arranged; and Father's so set on your going.'Yes, her father was set on his going. That was kindness himself, and so was the

532mistress, too kind in a way to the son of their maid. But now that maid was ill, seriously ill, and endeavouring to hide it from him. If anything should happen to her when he was away? He shook his head as if to rid himself of the thought . . .'Is it because Lily's not well?'He turned to her, his eyes downcast as he said, 'Could be.''But she wants you to go. I heard her saying to Mammy it was wonderful and fitting you should go.''Why fitting?''Well,' she shrugged her shoulders, 'likely because you've got a lot up top, big head.' She laughed and pushed him with the flat of her hand. 'Mathematical genius. And here's me, I can hardly do my seven times table.'His manner changing, he smiled at her softly now as he said,

'It's a pity you are so dim. It's a good job you'll never have to work for your living.''Oh you!' She was thrusting her hand at him again. 'I can beat you at some things any day. French, German, literature.''What about Latin?''Oh, Latin.'

533'Yes, oh Latin. Your English will be wanting without the knowledge of Latin. I've always said that to you.''Yes.' She sighed now before she went on, 'You've always said so many things to me, Joseph, but not the things I want to hear. And why? . . . Why? Because you do love me, I know you do.'He turned sharply away from her, saying, 'Please!''Well, you do. And look, Joseph, we are not children any more.

I'm not a child nor am I a silly young girl, and I've never been a silly young girl where you're concerned.

I'll be eighteen next month. I have finished with schooling. They can no longer send me away or . . .'He swung round on her, crying now, 'There you have it. They can't send you away, but I'm going away, not apparently being sent. Oh, and I'm not grumbling, because your people are the kindest couple in the world. But for years now, for some reason or other they have striven to keep us apart. And there must be a reason, because yůr father is no snob, nor your mother. It lsn't just because I'm the son of the maid, 534because

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