Free The Chainmakers by Helen Spring

after the service, Mary’s doing it for us.’
    They said their goodbyes and Clancy went to the chainshop. As he put his bottles of cold tea into the bosh to keep cool, he watched Anna making her way up the bank. She looked small and slender, he thought, as if she would not have the strength to make it to the top. He wondered how she would get through the next few days, and then realised that it was the weeks to come which would be the real problem. Working all day, all the domestic duties, and a drunken father to boot. Poor lass, he thought, my heart bleeds for ye so it does.
    ~
    'It's no use looking like that Robert.' Florence brandished the marmalade spoon as her son thrust his head into his newspaper.
    'If you don't want my truthful opinion you should not ask what I think,' Florence continued, spreading marmalade on her toast. 'Leave it alone, that's my advice. Let the poor girl be.'
    'That's hardly a charitable attitude!' Robert burst out. 'You know very well she needs the money, and a change of air would do her the world of good.'
    'Ah! So it's Anna's welfare you are concerned about now is it? A moment ago your own needs were paramount, you must have her as a model and no-one else would do.'
    'That's right!' Robert put down his newspaper. 'I do need her. If I'm to make a triptych I need another portrait. Outdoors... in the fields in her flowered dress, perhaps. Then I will have the work scene, the domestic scene and an outdoor scene.'
    'And that will take the whole summer?' Florence asked with a hint of sarcasm.
    'No, but Anna will have extra work from the other chaps. Jacques usually brings his wife to model for us, but she is not coming this year. She's expecting a child,' he added a little selfconsciously. 'We kill two birds with one stone. We have a model and Anna makes some money and has a good holiday into the bargain.'
    Florence sighed. 'I can see your mind is already made up,' she said. 'I just want to remind you Robert...'
    'What?' His blue eyes were bland over his teacup.
    'You know perfectly well what...'
    'Mother! You surely don't think...? I'm very fond of Anna, I wouldn't hurt her for the world.'
    'Your record does not inspire confidence Robert.'
    Robert slammed down his cup so that it almost broke the saucer. 'You would have to bring that up wouldn't you?'
    'I'm not thinking only of you, there are the others too.' Florence said calmly.
    'Therese will be there.'
    'Yes, thank God!' Florence sighed, deciding she had to mend fences. 'Look dear, I'm not accusing you of any ulterior motive...'
    'I should hope not!' Robert broke in.
    'I'm only saying that Anna... well... she is an innocent.'
    'She's more sophisticated than when she first came here, and who's idea was that? I was going to put her in the servant's quarters... like...' Robert searched for a word. 'Like ... an employee. It was you who insisted she be treated as a guest and eat at table with us. Now you' re saying ..'
    'I'm not saying anything Robert, but I think on reflection perhaps I was wrong. I may have made it more difficult for the poor girl to accept her lot. And then her mother dying so suddenly a month ago... I told you I had a letter from Anna didn't I?'
    'Yes.' Robert said shortly. He had had enough of the conversation and decided to be brutal. 'That is a prime consideration,' he said. 'I happen to know that Anna's father is a real drunkard and she will be alone in the house with him now. My plan will give her a break, and an increased income so that she can make a few choices of her own.'
    Robert gave his mother a curt nod and left the dining room. Florence got to her feet and rang for the table to be cleared. She reflected sadly that it was not perhaps so easy to help those less fortunate than oneself, even with the best of intentions. It might be better to leave them alone, or just give them a little money to enjoy in their own way. And who was to say whether her world, the world she had tried to introduce to Anna, was an improvement