Free Going Home by Valerie Wood Page A

for she guessed that he was mostly bluster. ‘I am in complete agreement with you. It’s most important that we know our own historical background, and as soon as the children can read and write sufficiently well, we shall be teaching them, in a simple form, the history of both England and Ireland.’
    She smiled at him. ‘I’m sure you will do the same. But as far as teaching them English, if they are to stay in England they will have more chance of obtaining work if their accent can be understood, and they will never lose it completely, I can assure you of that. And why should they want to, it is charming!’
    Mr Mahoney stood open-mouthed, then said, ‘Charming? To be sure, nobody has ever said that before.’
    ‘Well I’m saying it. And they are delightful, intelligent children. They need every opportunity they can get.’
    He backed away to the door. ‘Well, as long as it’s understood.’ He waved a finger halfheartedly. ‘They keep their Irish tongue!’
    ‘I understand completely, you need have no doubts on that. Good day, Mr Mahoney. Thank you for coming.’
    She heaved a sigh as the door was closed behind him and the children, all but Moira, satdown again. ‘Sorry, miss,’ she said, hanging her head. ‘It was my fault.’
    ‘How was it your fault, Moira?’
    ‘It was our Eamon, he was babbling on something terrible last night and I screeched at him, “you eejit, speak English for God’s sake,” and Dada was just coming in the door and heard me. He fetched me a clout and said we were getting above ourselves and he’d take us away from school.’
    ‘And I said we wanted to stay, miss,’ Kieran butted in. ‘I told him that you said we’d be reading by Christmas.’
    Amelia gave a huge smile. ‘And so you will. That’s a promise.’

Chapter Eight
    ‘ SO WHAT SHALL we do? How shall we get round it?’ Ralph looked anxiously at Jack. ‘The clerk was definite about it.’
    Jack put his chin in his hands and gazed down from the Hawkins’s veranda towards the creek. ‘He wouldn’t take a bribe?’
    ‘No, I tried that too. He said he would be out of a job if he did.’
    ‘There’s only one thing for it then. I’ll have to come as your manservant!’
    Ralph roared with laughter and slapped Jack on the shoulder. ‘Brilliant! Does that mean you’ll press my trousers?’
    ‘No sir, it don’t! You press your own damned trousers, white man.’
    ‘What’s going on out here?’ Meg came out, followed by Joe. ‘Can we share in the joke?’
    ‘It’s no joke, Ma.’ A sudden gloom came into Ralph’s voice. ‘We can’t get Jack on board ship as a passenger. When I went to book they asked if he was a native Australian and when I saidyes, same as me, they asked what colour he was. Then the clerk said all the cabins were taken.’
    ‘And were they?’ his father frowned.
    ‘No, I saw the list. There was plenty of space.’
    ‘Mrs Boyle and her daughter are travelling on ’same ship,’ Meg said. ‘I understood ’ship was only half full.’
    ‘I’ll wear my white tunic and travel as Ralph’s servant.’ Jack grinned as he spoke but there was anger in his eyes. ‘I’m determined to go.’
    ‘Why do you want to go, Jack?’ Meg asked. ‘What is there for you in England?’
    Jack shook his head. ‘Don’t know, Missus Meg.’ He used the name that he had given her when he was a child. ‘I just feel the need to go. I dreamt that I should. There’s something waiting for me.’
    ‘I’ll go in,’ Joe said vehemently. ‘They’ll not argue wi’ me.’
    ‘No, sir,’ Jack protested. ‘Book me in as Ralph’s manservant. We can have some fun with that, hey Ralph? I’ll buy some new clothes and expensive luggage and no-one will know what to make of it.’
    ‘What does your father think of you going to England?’ Joe asked.
    ‘He thinks I’m crazy, sir,’ he grinned. ‘And I probably am!’
    ‘Ma says we’ll need warm clothes even though it’ll be spring when we get