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

view. The whole village seemed to be asleep. After a minute she turned and went back indoors.
    In the kitchen she took off her pattens and moved to the table. Taking a Lucifer match from its box she struck it and put the little flame to the wick of the half-burned candle. In the light of the flame she took Eddie’s old winter coat from its hook behind the door and wrapped it round her shoulders. The fire in the grate had long since died and the room had grown cold. Moving to the window seat, she sat down and settled herself to wait.
    She awoke with a start, stiff in her limbs, her bare feet cold in the early morning air. She stretched her arms and rubbed at her neck to ease the stiffness there. It was close on five o’clock and dawn was lighting the room. On the table the candle had burned out.
    After raking the ashes from the grate she lit a fire. Then she washed her face and hands, and went upstairs. In the bedroom, moving quietly so as not to waken the girls, she got dressed and then crept again into her mother’s room. Peering into the little wardrobe, she saw that her father’s clothes hung there neatly, while most of her mother’s things had gone.
    Back downstairs she made some tea and sat slowly drinking it at the table. She had been sitting there for ten minutes when she noticed the envelope. Glancing over in the direction of the range, she saw it on the mantelpiece, propped up against a little china dog that Eddie had won at the last May fair. She reached up to take it down – and found that there were two others behind it. Each was inscribed in her mother’s handwriting; the first was addressed simply: Frank ; the second: Edward : the third: Abigail . All three envelopes were sealed.
    At the table she laid the envelopes before her, then, carefully, she took up the one addressed to herself and tore it open. Inside, folded, was a single sheet of flimsy notepaper. Opening it up, she read the words that her mother had written.
    My dear Abbie,
    Please see that your father and Eddie get these letters as soon as possible. It’s very important. Please be a good girl and look after your father and your brother and sisters. I’m very sorry about everything. Perhaps one day you’ll understand. I’ll try to write to you soon.
    Your loving Mother
    At seven o’clock Abbie went upstairs and woke Lizzie and Iris, and told them to get dressed. When they came downstairs she served them porridge, adding to it a little milk and honey. ‘Where’s Mam? Where’s Mam?’ they asked in plaintive, irritating tones, to which Abbie replied that their mother had gone out and would be back later.
    When they had eaten – Abbie herself was unable to swallow more than a spoonful or two – she got them into their coats.
    ‘Where are we going?’ Lizzie asked, her question at once echoed by Iris.
    ‘To White’s farm,’ Abbie said, ‘to see Eddie.’
    ‘What for?’ Iris asked.
    ‘Because we’ve got to.’
    When they were all ready, Abbie set the guard before the fire, then took the three letters and put them into her pocket. With the girls at her side, she left the cottage.
    It took about twenty minutes to reach the farmhouse and, on enquiring of the farmer’s wife for her brother, Abbie was directed to the stable yard.
    Eddie looked up in surprise as his sisters came towards him. ‘What’re you doin’ ’ere?’ he said, frowning.
    Abbie came to a halt some ten yards away. ‘Wait here,’ she said to the girls. ‘I want to talk to Eddie for a minute.’
    ‘What for?’ Lizzie asked.
    ‘Just do as I tell you,’ Abbie said sharply.
    Leaving the girls standing side by side, she went to where Eddie stood.
    His frown deepened as he saw the grave expression on her face. ‘What’s up?’ he asked.
    Abbie tried to frame words but none came, and suddenly her lip quivered and she burst into tears.
    ‘Good God, girl!’ Eddie said, all concern. ‘What’s the matter?’
    ‘It’s Mam,’ she managed to get out at last.