The Book of Ebenezer le Page by G.B. Edwards

Author:G.B. Edwards
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 978-1-59017-611-5
Publisher: New York Review Books
Published: 2012-02-06T16:00:00+00:00

12

Tabitha offered to leave the Priaulx and come and keep house for me; but I wouldn’t hear of it. I knew she would have more of everything where she was than she would ever have with me. Besides, she had company. She was quiet, my sister, and while she had Jean she was quite satisfied to be only with him; but, once he was gone, she liked to do things for other people. The Priaulx, from the children who was growing up to the old lady who was now an invalid, depended on her; yet they knew her worth and didn’t put upon her. She always found time to knit me socks and do my mending; and she came often to see how I was making out. She sorted out my mother’s clothes, and the best I sent to the Brethren for them to sell, or give away. I got Percy to come and do out what had been my mother’s room and make it bright. It had always been dark while she was alive, and she would never let me have it done.

Raymond was another who turned up trumps. He came with a message from Christine: at least, he said it was from Christine, but I am sure it was his own idea. It was that I must go there for dinner Sundays, and any evening after work, if I didn’t want the trouble of getting myself a meal. I didn’t go as often as he said; but I went often enough. I felt uncomfortable about it at first, because I couldn’t very well offer to pay him anything; but the garden at the back was in a mess and I said he could easily grow enough fruit and vegetables for themselves and, if he liked, I would give him a hand of an evening. He was quite willing and I brought most of the stuff and started him off. I had thought till then he was only good for books and preaching, and hadn’t expected much of him as a gardener; but he had the green fingers, that boy, and I was surprised at the success he made of it.

I enjoyed those evenings and I think he did too. It was nice working together in the cool of the evening and with the smell of burning weeds going up in the air. Those was the only times he talked to me as he used to. When Christine was there he hadn’t much to say for himself. She had a way of getting in between him and anybody else he was friendly with. Of course, she made out I was a great friend of hers as well; but I never knew quite what was going on behind those cat’s eyes and that moon face and that holy voice. Raymond took her at her face value, and thought every word she said was sincere. She needn’t have worried over anything he might say to me about her. He never said a word wasn’t in praise of her.

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