The Caxley Chronicles by Miss Read Read Free Book Online Page B

would need no time at all to refuse that sort of invitation.' Sep spoke with a certain pomposity which brought Edna to her feet. She leant upon the table, eyes flashing, and faced her husband squarely.
    'You don't appear to trust me very far, Sep Howard. I ain't proposing to stand stark naked for Mr Crockford—'
    'I should hope not!' broke in Sep, much shocked.
    'It was me he wanted to paint. And I should have had the chance of answering. Made me look no better than a stupid kid, snapping back at him like that, and leaving me out of things.'
    Sep buttoned his mouth tightly. He had become very pale and the righteous wrath of generations of staunch chapel-goers began to make his blood boil.
    'There's no more to be said, my lady. It was a shameful suggestion and I'll not see my wife flaunting herself for Dan Crockford or anyone else. I don't want to hear any more about it.'
    If Sep had been in any condition to think coolly, he must have realised that this was the best way to rouse a mettlesome wife to open rebellion. But he was not capable of thinking far ahead just then. He watched the colour flood Edna's lovely face and her thin brown hands knot into tight fists.
    'You don't want to hear any more about it, eh?' echoed Edna. Her voice was low, and throbbing with fury. 'Well, let me tell you, Sep Howard, you're going to! I should like to have my picture painted. Dan Crockford don't mean anything more to me than that chair there, but if he wants to paint my picture, I'm willing. You can't stop me, and you'd better not try, unless you wants to run the shop, and the home too, on your own. I won't be bossed about by you, or anyone else!'
    It was at this dangerous moment in the battle that Sep should have given in completely, apologised for his arrogance, told Edna that he could not do without her, and that of course she could sit for Dan Crockford if she wanted to so desperately. Edna's defiance would have abated at once, and all would have been forgotten. But Sep made the wrong move. He thumped the table and shouted.
    'I forbid—' he began in a great roaring voice which stirred the curtains.
    'Forbid?' screamed Edna. 'Don't you take that tone to me, you little worm! Who d'you think you're talking to—our Kathy? I'm going up to bed now, and tomorrow morning I'm going round to Dan Crockford's to tell him I'll sit for him!'
    She whirled from the room, her gold and green dress swishing, leaving Sep open-mouthed. Here was flat rebellion, and Sep knew full well that he had no weapon in his armoury to overcome it.

    Morning brought no truce, and Edna set out purposefully across the square as soon as her house was set to rights. Sep watched her go, dumb with misery.
    By the time market day came round again the whole of Caxley buzzed with this delicious piece of news. Fat Mrs Petty, chopping cod into cutlets, shouted boisterously above the rhythmic noise of her cleaver.
    'No better'n she should be! Once a gyppo, always a gyppo, I says! And us all knows what Dan Crockford's like.'
    'It's her poor husband I feel so sorry for,' nodded her customer lugubriously. Her mouth was set in a deprecating downward curve, but her eyes were gleaming with enjoyment. Gossip is always interesting, and this was a particularly exciting snippet for the good folk of Caxley.
    'It won't surprise me to hear that Sep Howard turns her out,' continued the customer with relish. 'Been brought up proper strict, his lot—chapel every Sunday, Band of Hope, and all that. You never know, it might all end up in the court!'
    She looked across at Caxley's Town Hall, standing beside
St Peter's. Two magistrates were already mounting the steps, dignified in their good broadcloth, for the weekly sitting. Mrs Petty broke into loud laughter, holding up two fat hands, sparkling with fish-scales.
    'Court?' she wheezed merrily. 'Ain't no need to take Edna Howard to court! All her husband needs is to take a strap to her!'
    In this, Mrs Petty echoed most people in Caxley.