The Rag Nymph by Catherine Cookson

Author:Catherine Cookson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub

They both gave a start as Ben sprang to his feet, all laughter and fun now gone from his face as he cried, “Don’t start putting things into her head. You would damn well think, the way you talk, that sixteen was the limit for any lass marrying. She’ll marry when she’s ready, and she’ll know when she’s ready. And who she wants to marry an’ all. So you get that into your head, woman.” And on that, he turned about and marched from the room, leaving Millie greatly perturbed; but not so Aggie.

“Gets worked up, doesn’t he?” she said. “But you know, me dear, what I say is true. Come sixteen, if not afore, that’s the way your thoughts’ll be goin’. By the way, how long is it since that Mr Thompson called?”

“Three months.”

“Yes; yes, it’ll be that. And I thought you would remember. That was the third time he’s looked in, wasn’t it?”

Millie was on her feet looking down into the wide, sagging face, and her voice was just above a whisper as she said, “No, Mrs Aggie. No, never; he’s.., he’s just a kind man. He’s a gentleman and, what’s more, don’t you remember who he’s related to? That…that awful woman.”

“She’s just a half-sister, so you said.”

“Mrs Aggie, please, don’t ever think such a thing.

I…I wouldn’t be able to look at him or speak to him ordinarily if I thought he’d imagine that I…

Well, it’s as Ben said, sixteen is no age and I’ve never thought about being married. Well, not really. I’ll not marry for years and years. And then it would have to be someone I was at ease with, never anyone like Mr Thompson. Anyway” - her voice was louder now “I wouldn’t like the way they live, and they certainly wouldn’t tolerate anybody.., well, like me, coming into the family. I know that. Oh, yes, yes, I know that. You’ve just got to listen to Mr Sponge at the school. He was speaking the truth, and that’s why they stopped him teaching. But he just pointed out the gulf there is between them and us, I mean, the middle classes and the working class. And not only just…well, like the people around here, but the artisans.., you know, those men with trades whom the middle class still think of as scum. Do you know what? They won’t allow working men on to the station when the gentry’s there because the sight of them might offend their eyes, not until the train is about to go, when they can scramble into the third class, and have to stand up most of the way. Oh! Mrs Aggie. And you think that Mr Thompson…?”

It was she who now turned about and hurried from the room, leaving Aggie sitting quietly nodding to herself. Then as if she were speaking to someone, she said aloud, “Well, we’ll see what we shall see. I hope I live long enough.”

TWO

It took nine months for Millie’s suggestion to bear fruit in the form of pies at tuppence and fourpence each.

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