The Barefoot Child. Cathy Sharp

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СКАЧАТЬ Docherty told him that his wife would have a register of any girls taken into the workhouse but it was kept in a locked drawer and his wife kept the key on the chatelaine at her waist. The women and girls had assembled for their midday meal and Arthur was taken into the dining hall, but he could not see a girl who was obviously the one he searched for. There were three that might have been her, but when asked to give their names they responded with names none of which were the one he needed to hear.

      Arthur said he would call back the next day to look at the register and went on his way. It took him most of the day to visit the other two workhouses in London with no success so he was tired and annoyed and almost snapped poor Benson’s head off when told there was a visitor awaiting him.

      ‘He said it was urgent, sir, and insisted on waiting.’

      Arthur went into the parlour and saw his land agent. ‘Geoffrey! What brings you to London? How is everything at the estate?’

      ‘I came rather than write because it is a matter I am sure you will wish to attend to yourself, sir …’

      Kitty’s knees felt sore, because Sadie had made her scrub both the kitchen and the pantry floors. Both were stone and cold to kneel on and she’d had to press hard on the brush, because Sadie made her do it again if she wasn’t satisfied.

      Her eyes were wet with the tears she couldn’t hide, her hands stinging from the hot water and coarse soap she’d used. Kitty was hungry. She’d missed her midday meal because Sadie said she had to finish the floors and by the time she got to the dining room, everyone was leaving and there was nothing left on the tables.

      ‘Where have you been, girl?’ the master demanded. ‘Did you not hear the bell for your midday meal?’

      Kitty stared at him fearfully. He carried a thin cane and she knew he sometimes hit boys who were slow to obey, a quick strike across their thighs. She did not dare to answer for if she complained about Sadie the mean-spirited old woman would find some way to punish her – she already gave her all the worst jobs in the kitchen. Lil said it wasn’t right, but when she’d tried to stand up for Kitty, Sadie had told her to shut her mouth or she would be in trouble.

      Rubbing her eyes, Kitty walked slowly back to the kitchen. She would not be given any food by Sadie who would find more work for her to do, because she was spiteful as well as mean. None of the other women liked her, but they were all a bit afraid of her.

      ‘Kitty, love,’ Lil called to her as she dragged her steps. ‘Here, I’ve got a bit of cheese. Moll gave it to me fer yer when Sadie’s back was turned. It ain’t much but it will be nice to nibble and keep yer from starving till supper …’

      ‘Thanks, Lil.’ Kitty smiled at her. Some of the other women were all right, but none of them went out of their way to be kind as Lil did, though the one they called old Moll had winked at her a couple of times. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked as her friend put a hand to the small of her back and sighed.

      ‘I’m close ter me time,’ Lil said and nodded as Kitty’s eyes widened. ‘My babe will be born soon. I’ll have to stay here for a while after to pay my way, Kitty, love, but as soon as I’m able I’ll leave – and I’ll see if I can find yer sister fer yer.’

      Kitty thanked her. ‘Shall I rub yer back, Lil? Ma liked her back rubbed when she was ill.’

      ‘It’s kind of yer to ask,’ Lil said, ‘but yer ’ad best get back and see if Sadie ’as a job fer yer.’

      Kitty nodded. She hated being in this awful place and she wanted to be with Lucy and Josh again. If Lil left, then she would have no one to look out for her. Lucy decided that if the opportunity arose she would run away. If she could find the school she’d attended, the reverend would tell her where to find her sister and Josh, she was certain of it.

      Lucy heard the church clock strike midnight and went to the window to glance out at the street. The gas lamps were spaced several yards apart so there was little light to guide her brother home if he was on his way, but there was coldness at the nape of her neck. Josh had been getting home later and later and one night he had not come in at all; in the morning she’d seen him stuffing more money under a floorboard he’d prised up beneath his mattress. She knew his little hoard was growing and that could only mean that he was becoming more and more involved in the criminal world.

      Sighing, Lucy turned away and sat down on a wooden box that she’d been given by Eric Boyser. He’d brought it round filled with vegetables soon after she’d moved in, and told her she could keep it for firewood. Lucy had thanked him, though her pride was hurt because she saw pity in his eyes. Eric was always offering her things cheap and so she seldom went to him these days, because she would not live on a friend’s charity, yet she missed his cheeky smile and wished she could go back to the time when her mother gave her money to go shopping twice a week.

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