Free Pauper's Gold by Margaret Dickinson Page B

where might you two have been when there’s work to be done? You’re not allowed out of this house without permission. You should have come
straight back here after the service. Why didn’t you? I know you are both comparatively new here, but you know the rules, don’t you?’
    Hannah and Luke glanced at each other. ‘Yes, ma’am,’ they murmured in unison.
    ‘If it hadn’t been for Joe telling me that he’d seen you going up the hill,’ Mrs Bramwell went on, ‘I might’ve thought some accident had befallen you and sent
people out to look for you. You’d’ve been in serious trouble then.’
    Hannah felt a flash of anger. So, Joe was a telltale an’ all, was he? It seemed there was no one here she could trust, except the three children who’d come with her from the
workhouse. And maybe Nell. She liked Nell. Daniel would never in a million years tell tales about his twin. He’d rather take punishment himself. But Joe, it seemed, had no such scruples.
Hannah guessed that he was miffed at Luke having taken Hannah away from him on the walk he had planned. And now, he’d taken revenge.
    Her glance raked the tables until she saw him. He was the only one with his gaze averted. He dared not look her in the eyes. Well, Hannah promised herself, she’d sort him out later, but
her attention was dragged back to what Mrs Bramwell was saying.
    ‘I can’t let this go unpunished even so. There’ll be no dinner for either of you. You’ – she pointed at Hannah – ‘will spend the rest of the day in the
punishment room on bread and water.’ Her glance turned to Luke. ‘And we’ll see what a beating will do for you.’
    She stepped between them and laid a hand heavily on their shoulders. ‘Come along.’
    As they were led away, Hannah caught sight of the tears coursing down Jane’s face, of Nell’s anxious look and Joe’s scarlet cheeks.
    Not until the next morning as they hurried to work were Hannah and Luke able to speak to each other.
    ‘Was it very bad, Luke? Did she hurt you?’
    ‘It was him – Mr Bramwell – not her. He beats the boys and she punishes the girls.’
    ‘Did it hurt?’
    ‘It wasn’t too bad. I’ve ’ad worse from old Goodbody.’ The lad grimaced and Hannah knew he was being brave. ‘I’m sorry I led you into trouble, Hannah,
but it was great out there on the hills, wasn’t it?’
    ‘Yeah, it was. And it’s not the first time I’ve been in trouble and I doubt it’ll be the last.’ She grinned at him. ‘I’m just sorry we didn’t stop
and have Mrs Grundy’s roast lamb, aren’t you?’
    As they parted in the yard to go to their separate places of work, Ernest Scarsfield saw them laughing together. He’d heard about the previous day’s escapade and now he shook his
head in wonder. Was there nothing that would tame this girl? Because the way she was going on, she was going to spend half her days in trouble. And the more trouble she got into, the harsher the
chastisement would become. He didn’t want to see a pretty, bright little lass like her forever being punished, yet he couldn’t help but secretly hope that her spirit would never be
broken. He’d seen it all over the years. Undernourished, overworked children cowed and old before their time, many of them never even reaching adulthood. The work was arduous and only the
strongest endured. He devoutly hoped Hannah was a survivor.

 
Nine
    The following Sunday as they walked back from the morning service in the schoolroom, Luke whispered, ‘Are we going out again?’
    Hannah shook her head. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to, or that I’ve suddenly turned into a bootkisser like Millie calls me.’
    Luke grinned. ‘Fat chance!’
    Hannah smiled too. ‘But I do want to keep in Mrs Bramwell’s good books for a bit, if I can. You know what she’s like.’ Suddenly, Hannah clapped her hands and mimicked the
superintendent. ‘“Come along, come along. There’s work to be done.” Well, I’m going to