A New Day by Beryl Matthews Read Free Book Online

cup of tea with me. You are always on the go.’
    ‘I’m used to being busy,’ she laughed, taking a cup of tea from Mrs Harcourt, and then sitting down.
    ‘Was that Constable Rogers with you outside?’
    Hanna nodded. ‘I met him up the road and he wanted to know if Mr Talbot had bothered me any more. Thank goodness I was able to tell him that I haven’t seen or heard from him again.’
    ‘That was thoughtful of him,’ Jane Harcourt said. ‘He appears to be very good at his job, dealing firmly with Mr Talbot. He should go far. And now we are on the subject of that disagreeable man, I want to tell you what I have been doing. I talked with my committee and the chairman paid an unannounced visit to the orphanage. He was not impressed with what he saw this time, and we all agreed that something should be done for the children there. A good friend of mine has just taken over as chairman of Lambeth Council and she would like to talk to you.’
    ‘Oh.’ Hanna wasn’t sure she liked that idea and it showed on her face.
    ‘You don’t need to be afraid, Hanna. Rose Freeman is a formidable woman, but she’s understanding, and gets things done. She’s already looking into things, and would like to see both of us next week.’
    Hanna relaxed a little. ‘You will be coming as well, Mrs Harcourt?’
    ‘Yes, we will both be questioned very thoroughly,’ she said dryly. ‘But we can trust Rose. She knows what she is doing. Are you happy to come with me?’
    ‘Yes.’ Hanna nodded. ‘Something does need to be done for the children.’
    ‘Good. I’ll tell Rose we’re coming.’

Six
    Bill sat next to Jack. ‘We’ll soon be going through one of the great wonders of the world – the Suez Canal.’
    ‘Oh, I can’t wait to see that.’ Jack smiled, excited to be seeing such a marvel. ‘When will we be there?’
    ‘The early hours of tomorrow morning, and then it will be on to India where we will be stopping for a couple of days. I’ll show you around and see you don’t get lost.’
    ‘Count me in as well. I want to buy a silk scarf for my girlfriend.’ Frank put a mug of tea in front of Bill. ‘You going to get something pretty for your wife, Bill?’
    ‘If I see something I think she’ll like.’ Bill drank his tea thirstily. ‘You could get something for your sister, Jack. It sounds as if she deserves a treat.’
    ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Jack looked doubtful. ‘I would like to get her something, but I don’t want to spend much.’
    ‘Don’t worry about that,’ Frank told him. ‘We let Bill do the bargaining and then we won’t have to pay much. He’s an expert at getting a good price.’
    ‘In that case I’ll see what there is she might like.’ Jack smiled at the thought of buying his sister something special. She had told him to spend his money and enjoy himself. Yes, he would enjoy taking home a present for her.
    The rest of Jack’s day went in a flash, and as usual he fell asleep as soon as he crawled into his bunk, oblivious to the coming and going of other crew members. The ship never slept. The days at sea so far had passed in a blur of activity, and it was so easy to lose track of time, but he loved every moment.
    The next thing he knew Frank was shaking him awake. ‘Come on, Jack, you’ve got to see this.’
    Jack scrambled into his clothes and ran up the steps, unable to contain his excitement as he rushed to the rail. ‘Wow! Look at that! I’ve never even been out of London before, and here I am in a foreign land. How did they ever build this?’ He laughed and stretched out his arm. ‘I could almost touch the sides. Is it deep enough?’
    Bill had joined them and the two men exchanged amused glances, never bothering to answer the questions pouring from Jack. They all watched in silence as the ship made its way along the canal.
    Jack was then called to give a hand with something and he tore off.
    The captain came up to Bill. ‘Are you taking the boy ashore when we stop in