Light A Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy Read Free Book Online

She had noticed the large eyes in the small anxious face becoming even rounder and darker at the mention of a place full of dead babies. It seemed so natural in the convent, with Sister Mary and Sister Bonaventure, to talk of unbaptised babies going to limbo because they didn’t have the sanctifying grace that would let them look at God. It seemed unnatural and macabre trying to explain this to Elizabeth, who knew nothing of the rules.
    ‘You never see pictures of them in heaven, mind,’ said Eamonn, trying to disrupt the calm.
    ‘They’re all round the other side,’ cut in Eileen. Then, as she saw the question forming on all their faces, ‘You know, the bit they don’t show in the pictures of heaven where all the animals and birds and all the creatures St Francis loved are all gathered.’ As she spoke, she wondered did all other parents have to interpret religion so wildly for their children, and whether the Lord approved of her efforts.
    *
    Violet opened the letter eagerly. The house had been far emptier without Elizabeth than she would have believed possible. Already she had forgotten her constant irritation with the little face that reddened and whitened like the colours mixing in a painting box. She hoped that Elizabeth was not being too timid amid the undoubtedly boisterous family in Kilgarret. She had forgotten to warn her about keeping her money safely hidden or giving it to Eileen for safe-keeping in case the rough boys and girls took it from her. Two letters fell out. Violet picked up Elizabeth’s first. Lines had been ruled on a page for her. More lines than were used.
    Dear Mother and Father,
    I am very well I hope you are very well. We have got a new kitten called Monica, it is only for Aisling and me. Its not for Eamonn but we are going to let Donal play with it. Aisling is not like Aisling it’s like Ashleen. It’s an Irish name. I start school next week. Aunt Eileen has borrowed a big Bible from some people who are Protestants and I will take it to the school to read when the others are reading about the Virgin and the Saints. Peggy tells us stories every night.
    Love from
    Elizabeth
    A wave of anti-climax flowed over Violet. Who was Peggy? What was all this about a Bible, a kitten, the Virgin ? Was all this rubbish about Aisling to do with how you pronounced her name? Violet read the little note again. It seemed happy and preoccupied, she thought, that much at least was good. But no question about home, no hint of missing anyone. Of course, this was only the second letter that Elizabeth had written in her life. There had been no reason for her to write letters home before.
    Sighing slightly, Violet picked up the other paper. Normally Eileen’s correspondence was so long and flowery that she skimmed through, but this time she was eager to read every word. But Eileen had decided to be brief too.
    My dear Violet,
    Just a word to tell you how delighted we are to have Elizabeth with us. She is a lovely child, very gentle and eager to please. I hope she doesn’t find our brood too much for her. She was pale and weary after the long journey but has cheered up greatly and is eating well and bouncing around. I thought you would prefer her not to have Christian Doctrine lessons so I arranged a Bible for her from some of Sean’s customers who are C. of I. It’s the right one, it has Authorised Version on it, I looked.
    We’ll encourage her to write to you every week and she can post these letters herself in the square and she can say what she likes so you needn’t think they come through us. The same when you write to her. Nobody but Elizabeth will see it.
    I hope you are all managing over there all right. Our thoughts are with you in this awful time. As always, Eileen
    What
did
Eileen mean about Elizabeth ‘bouncing around?’ Elizabeth didn’t
bounce
. And why all the fuss about Bibles and authorised versions? The Irish were indeed obsessed with religion.
    Violet put the letters on the hall table so