A Crimson Dawn
‘You have. How is the poor girl?’
    â€˜Lost her tongue,’ Jonas said sadly. ‘And she wants to see her sister.’
    â€˜Of course,’ Flora nodded. ‘Nell is missing Emmie too. The sooner their futures are settled, the better.’
    They turned towards the cemetery gates. Jonas scratched his beard.
    â€˜What will become of Nell?’ he asked.
    Flora turned to him in surprise. ‘She’ll continue to live with me, of course. She’s been doing so since Christmas, thank God, or she might not be alive today. Nell’s a bright girl, if a bit wilful, but she gets along well enough with my housekeeper, Mrs Raine. As my ward, she will leam book-keeping and clerking, so one day she can support herself.’
    â€˜Not ganin’ on the stage then?’ Rab said wryly.
    Flora snorted. ‘I’ll make sure she keeps her feet on the ground.’
    At the gates, she turned to shake their hands. ‘You’re good people. Thank you for what you’ve done for Emmie. Once she comes to live with me and Nell, I’ll see she gets the best schooling and plenty of exercise. Perhaps we can come and visit from time to time?’
    Jonas and Rab gawped at her. ‘Live with you?’ Jonas queried. ‘Is that what Mary wanted?’
    Flora nodded. ‘In a way. She wanted her daughters to stay together - that’s what she wanted above everything. And Nell wants her sister back too.’
    Jonas said gruffly, ‘It’s just we’ve grown very fond of the wee lass.’
    â€˜I know,’ Flora sympathised. ‘But no one expected you to take her on for ever. You’ve your own family to think about. I have no family - there’s room for the two girls at my house and I can provide for them.’
    She looked at the two men, surprised at their looks of dismay. ‘You did say Emmie wanted to be with Nell again, didn’t you?’
    â€˜Aye,’ Jonas conceded.
    â€˜We’ll come and fetch her next Saturday. It’ll be easier once Emmie and Nell see each other again,’ Flora encouraged.
    The men trudged home, subdued.
    â€˜What gives the doctor the right to decide Emmie’s future?’ Rab was indignant. ‘Boasting about her housekeeper and a bigger wage.’
    â€˜She’s right,’ Jonas answered sadly. ‘The lassies should stay together.’
    â€˜Emmie should have a say in where she lives,’ Rab protested. ‘She’s not a possession to pass around.’
    â€˜We knew she wouldn’t be with us for ever,’ Jonas warned. ‘Don’t you go stirring things up and making it harder for her to leave.’
    The MacRaes did not tell Emmie that night that she would be leaving Crawdene for good. Somehow they could not bring themselves to say it. She brightened at the news that Dr Jameson and Nell would be visiting the following Saturday. On Monday, she went back to school, her large sad eyes like deep pools in her pale face.
    At tea time she seemed brighter, chattering to Helen as she helped set the table.
    â€˜Miss Downs says I can join in the races at Whit, now I’ve got me strength back. Will you come and watch, Auntie Helen?’
    Helen turned from the stove with a heavy heart.
    â€˜Sit down a minute, pet,’ she said quietly. Only Peter was in the house. She knew it had been left up to her to break the news. She pulled Emmie on to the horsehair sofa, explaining how the doctor and Nell wished for her to go and live with them.
    â€˜You’ll live in a grand house again - just like your mam and dad did when you were little. It’s what your mam would’ve wanted. And you’ll be with Nell - and the kind doctor. She’ll make sure you gan to a good school and learn your lessons.’
    Emmie’s eyes welled with tears.
    â€˜But I like it here. Auntie Helen,’ she said in bewilderment. ‘Why can’t Nell come and live here with us?’
    Helen sighed.

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