Catherine Cookson - Mary Ann Shaughnessy 02 by The Lord; Marianne

Author:The Lord; Marianne
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-05-21T09:31:40+00:00

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Although Mary Ann’s conscience was at rest once more, her mind was still troubled, for the anxiety that was eating into both Mike and Lizzie could not fail to make itself felt by her. Her da’s pay packet had been brought to the cottage as if he was working, and Mr. Lord himself had said, ”Don’t worry.” But she could feel that this statement instead of soothing her da’s anxiety had only irritated him. Mike did not want to be pensioned off out of charity. He wanted to work. At what? He didn’t as yet know. He attended the out-patients’ department; he read the ”wanted” columns; he gazed for hours out of the window in the direction of the farm; and he chafed at his lot. Finally and boldly, he approached Mr.

Lord, saying, ”I’m not ungrateful, sir, but I can’t go on like this.” 150

THE DEAL

”You have been understand you

”Like what?” Mr. Lord had asked. ”You have been out of hospital for only ten days and I understand you have to attend for some time yet.”

”That’s all very well,” said Mike, ”but what’s to follow?”

Mr. Lord had given no direct answer to this question ; all he said was to go home and rest and wait.

What was to follow Mr. Lord did not himself know.. He had been racking his brains as to what course he should take. If he gave him a small lump sum and let him go, the child would go. Yet how to give him a job? He would, of course, eventually get a hook for his hand, but even then would he be able to do a day’s work with the other men? It was very doubtful. To use a hook skilfully needed long practice, and his knowledge of men was too wide to think that their present sympathy for Shaughnessy would stand the test of years. Nor would a man like Shaughnessy tolerate being carried. No, he could not see Shaughnessy back on the farm. His labour troubles were bad enough without adding to them.

For the first .time Mr. Lord regretted his farm venture; he regretted the expensive house he was building; he regretted very much paying Ratcliffe three months’ money in lieu of notice and leaving the farm without a directive ; and above all he regretted the incident that had caused a place in his heart to open when Mary Ann had boldly claimed him as her granda. Material things could be rejected or replaced, but when carefully guarded feelings were exposed to the light of a child’s charm a man became vulnerable.

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In mid-week Mary Ann suddenly expressed a desire to return to school, and Lizzie, without protest, let her go, for she felt that the atmosphere of the house was I51

THE LORD AND MART ANN

unhealthy for her. Daily, she witnessed Mike’s attempt at cheerfulness when in Mary Ann’s presence, and it hurt her. And she knew it hurt the child. For with Mike, Mary Ann was like a watchful mother-no shade of his feelings escaped her.

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