So Long At the Fair by Jess Foley Read Free Book Online Page A

she loved him. Looking away over the green meadow she said, ‘I’ll miss you, Father.’
    He did not respond at once, but then his left hand came round and clasped her shoulder. He held her close and the smell of him in her nostrils was the sweetest scent. ‘I’ll miss you , my girl,’ he said.
    She knew, without looking at him, that there were tears in his eyes.
    Eddie returned late from work at the farm on Wednesday evening, telling his mother that both Mr White and his son were laid up with the flu, while Gresham, one of White’s right-hand men, had been confined to his bed following an accident in which he had injured his leg. An added complication was the fact that two of White’s mares were about to foal at any time. As a result, Eddie had agreed to sleep over at the farm for the next few nights in order to be on hand when needed.
    On Thursday, after midday dinner, Abbie concentrated on making sure that her things were ready for her move to Eversleigh. She did not have much to take in the way of clothes, but the little she owned had to be clean and mended and pressed. Her mother, it had been arranged, would accompany her to Eversleigh. Leaving Lizzie and Iris in the care of Jane and Mrs Carroll, Abbie and Mrs Morris would get a ride part of the way with Mr Taggart, the landlord of the Harp and Horses. Abbie knew that on a Saturday he usually drove to the market in Westbury, and on approaching him he readily agreed to take her and her mother in his cart. From Westbury the pair would walk the remaining two-and-a-half miles to Eversleigh.
    When her box was packed, Abbie resumed her work in the cottage. Her mother seemed strangely preoccupied. Several times when Abbie spoke to her in the course of their work she gave no answer; she appeared not to hear, to be far away in some world of her own; then, when Abbie repeated her words, she would turn to her as if coming out of a dream. Once or twice Abbie was tempted to ask if there was something wrong, but each time she let the moment pass and put the question from her mind.
    That night when she lay in bed her thoughts centred once again on her own concerns. After tonight there would be only one more day and one more night, then she would be leaving for Eversleigh.
    From the other bed she could hear the soft, regular breathing of her younger sisters. They had been asleep for hours. As she should have been. Nervousness, excitement, however, all got in the way. Faintly, from the church, she heard the striking of the clock and counted the twelve strokes.
    She was not sure whether her mother had come to bed. When Eddie slept at the farm Mrs Morris stayed later than usual in the kitchen. Tonight Abbie had been aware on two occasions of her mother climbing the stairs – it was impossible to use them without causing a few creaks – and then descending again. But that second time had been over an hour ago and since then she had heard nothing more.
    From the church came the sound of the clock striking the hour of one. Abbie lay there for a few minutes longer and then, as quietly as she could, slipped from her bed and tiptoed out of the room.
    In the faint light that crept past the thin curtains at the little landing window she saw that the door to her mother’s room was closed. After hesitating for a moment she gingerly grasped the handle. It turned silently in her hand. Holding her breath, she gently eased open the door. The curtains at the window were still parted, and in the moonlight she saw that her mother’s bed lay empty and undisturbed.
    She turned back out onto the landing and went down the stairs. The kitchen too was empty.
    Where had her mother gone? Not to Mrs Marling again, surely; Mrs Marling’s baby, a boy, had been born two days ago.
    Abbie stood, wondering what to do. Then she moved to the door, put on her pattens and slipped out into the night. At the gate she looked up and down the lane. There was no one in sight and not one single lighted window was in