Searching For Tilly by Susan Sallis

Author:Susan Sallis [Sallis, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

April 1922

SPRING CAME AT last that terrible year; and still Alice and Bessie worked at the Court, and still Tilly worked at Wayward House, and still Billy Boy ‘behaved himself’, because the biggest and best reward ever was coming his way. Tilly had to wait until she was seventeen but then Bessie said she could marry Jacko Miles and take Billy Boy to live at Uncle Philip’s cottage right next to the engine house of the old mine. The only difference now was that the three women lived in terror of the future and wondered how long they could go on without being discovered.

Dr Garrett, furious at being called out in such weather conditions, furious that the priest had insisted on taking the girl up into the trap with them – and why was the priest there anyway, none of his business – had pronounced Alice free of consumption. ‘Your daughter has a persistent cough, d’you say? Speak up, woman! When did it start?’

The reverend, hanging about near the door, had said sternly, ‘I think Miss Quince is well able to speak for herself, sir.’ And at the same time Bessie had quavered, ‘Prob’ly since the explosion, doctor sir. Soon after then we did notice it.’

‘I see.’ The doctor had ice in his voice as well as his hair.

Alice said happily, ‘I told you, Ma, din’t I? I knew it weren’t consumption!’

‘Then what can it be?’ Bessie looked pleadingly at the doctor. ‘There must be something that makes her cough up blood like that, doctor sir.’

‘It’s the coughing, madam. The girl has broken a blood vessel in her throat. I can prescribe soothing lozenges but it will cure itself in time. I take it you have no money for my bill, let alone medicines on top.’

The priest, bedraggled but dignified, spoke up again. ‘I will settle your bill, Garrett. Write the prescription.’

Tilly, standing as close as she could get to the reverend, knew he was making matters worse. The doctor would have been quite happy to take out his ire on the three Quince women; the reverend was making it difficult. But still she loved him for being there.

The doctor ignored the request and started to repack his Gladstone bag. Bessie, seeing the consultation coming to an end, quavered a little louder this time. ‘She is so tired lately, sir. And she do feel badly too.’

Garrett looked back at her with overt dislike. ‘That’s because of the pregnancy, woman. Classic symptoms. Dare say she feels faint often enough too, is that so, girl?’ He looked back at Alice. She had fainted.

The reverend gave them two days to talk about it, then arrived at Miners’ Cottages on Saturday evening. He brought a tiny nosegay of primroses from his garden. ‘They’ve come out at last.’

Tilly quoted delightedly, ‘April brings the primrose sweet, scatters daisies at our feet.’

As usual, he had a special smile for her. ‘Well done, Tilly. You minded Miss Casson well.’ He took off his hat and sat down in the proffered chair next to the fire.

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