Wait For the Dawn by Jess Foley Read Free Book Online Page B

come to the most undeserving of men. Men who are unbelievers.’ He sniffed. ‘I believe he has a fine house in Merinville too.’
    ‘He doesn’t live over his shop?’ Ryllis asked.
    ‘He used to, I’m told,’ Mrs Halley replied, ‘but I believe that was before he was married. By what I’ve been told, his wife had the house left to her by her father, so after they married he moved in there.’
    ‘I should think Mr Canbrook does very well,’ Ryllis said.
    ‘And what would you know about it?’ Mr Halley asked sharply. ‘Are you so knowledgeable?’
    Ryllis shrugged. ‘Well, it’s just that he – he employs several members of staff, and they seem to be kept busy enough.’
    Mr Halley swallowed a mouthful of ham and said, ‘Anyway, it doesn’t figure what any of you tell me about the man, because I don’t like him – and right now I’m tired of hearing his name, and of the wonderful things he’s done.’
    ‘How’s your tea, Father?’ Mrs Halley said, eager to mend fences. ‘Could you eat another slice of ham?’
    He did not answer. Idly, he had picked up the copy of the newspaper that Ryllis had brought back. He was staring at one of the pages.
    ‘What’s this?’ he said.
    His voice drew their attention, and three pairs of eyes saw that he was holding up the paper, turning it towards them. The page put to their view showed columns of classified advertisements, some of which showed Ryllis’s pencil markings.
    Frowning, he pointed to one of the circled advertisements. ‘Is this you?’ he said to Lydia. His tone was darkened with disappointment. ‘Lydia, don’t tell me you’re thinking of leaving Cremson’s.’
    No one spoke. Then Ryllis broke the silence. ‘No, Father,’ she said, ‘it was me.
I
wrote on the paper. I got it when I was in Redbury today.’
    He glared at her for a moment, then pushed his half-finished plate away and slapped the paper down on the table, the jolt making the shade of the lamp rattle on its newly repaired base. Then with his finger he jabbed at one of the marked entries.
    ‘So,’ he said to Ryllis, ‘it would appear that you’ve got your sights set on moving on. Is that right?’
    Ryllis did not answer.
    ‘Well, miss,’ he went on, ‘when you want to start thinking of another situation, perhaps you’d have the good manners to talk to me about it first.’
    ‘But Father,’ Ryllis said bravely, ‘I’ve wanted to talk to you about it, but I never think you want to listen.’
    Now his voice rose in his growing fury. ‘Don’t you dare talk to me like that,’ he said angrily, a little fleck of spit flying from his lower lip. The room went quiet. ‘I think we should get something understood,’ he added. ‘You aresixteen years of age, and still my responsibility, and even for a sixteen-year-old you’re immature. Sometimes I think you haven’t got the brains of a rabbit. That being said, you are not in a position to choose a post for yourself.’
    ‘But Father,’ Ryllis cried, tears suddenly spilling over and running down her cheeks, ‘I hate it at the Lucases. I’ve as good as told you in my letters. You know that.’
    ‘Oh, I do, do I? What I know is that you’ve got a job that many a young woman would be pleased to have. You’re well fed, and they give you the occasional half a day off, and a weekend sometimes, like now. You even get clothes given to you by Mrs Lucas. I don’t know what sort of position you’ve got in mind, but I doubt very much that you’d find another one any better.’
    ‘What do I want with Mrs Lucas’s old cast-offs,’ Ryllis said passionately. ‘For one thing she’s almost twice my height. I can’t wear her clothes. Besides, they’re horrible. As you said, I’m sixteen. What do I want with some worn out old clothes of an old-fashioned woman of fifty?’
    ‘I’ll tell you what you want,’ he said, his lips thinned into straight lines, ‘and that is to show some respect for your elders and betters. I’ve met