Free The Chainmakers by Helen Spring Page B

good. Just for the afternoon I mean, I have to do the washing first. We could find dandelions for your Mom.'
    'Sure that'll be grand, I can do with the fresh air,' Clancy agreed. 'I'll come for ye, about one o'clock.' He smiled happily as he watched Anna dash away up the bank. At the top she turned, breathless, and waved her hand. Clancy waved back, closing his ears to the coarse comments of his companions. He was pleased that Anna seemed to be emerging from the awful depression which had engulfed her when her Mam died. He felt a thrill of excitement. Perhaps everything would work out after all.
    ~
    There were plenty of dandelions, and as Anna said goodbye to Clancy the following day at the bottom of Dawkins Street, she promised to deliver the infusion to his mother that evening, as soon as it was made.
    'I've really enjoyed this afternoon,' she said, 'Thanks for taking me.'
    Clancy's eyes softened. 'Ye know I hope to be taking ye much further than Clent, Anna,' he said quietly.
    Anna smiled. 'I know.' She hesitated. 'It's... it's such a big decision Clancy. Let's take one step at a time shall we?'
    Clancy nodded. He felt like kissing her on the cheek but thought better of it, someone might be watching. He should have done it when they were at Clent, he thought, where they found all those dandelions in the hollow...
    'I'll see ye later,' he said, and walked slowly home.
    Anna was lighthearted after her afternoon in the fresh air. She swung the basket of dandelion flowers and hummed a little tune as she walked up the ginnel and in at the back door. Her father was home, but he got up as she entered and reached for his jacket.
    'Yo've been a while,' he said, a hint of complaint in his voice.
    'Yes, been to Clent with Clancy collecting dandelion heads.' Anna surveyed the fire, which had burned very low. 'You could have banked the fire up Dad, it's nearly out.'
    'Not my job to see to the fire,' he said briefly, pulling on his jacket.
    Anna made no reply. She picked up the fire bucket and threw on some small coal. Then she riddled the ashes at the bottom of the grate with the poker to let air in underneath, and the fire began to draw.
    'Anyway,' her father said crossly, 'No need to mek the fire up that much, not in this warm weather.'
    'I have to cook the dinner,' Anna protested, 'And make up the infusion for Mrs. Sullivan.'
    'Yo' needn't mek me any dinner,' George Gibson remarked, 'I'm off to the Sandley Arms. I wanted me dinner an hour since but there was none.'
    'Well hang on a bit Dad, it won't be long.'
    ''Ang on? Ang on fer yo'? Who do yo' think you'm tellin' to 'ang on? In case yo 've forgot it ma wench, this is my 'ouse, an' I'll 'ave dinner when I say, not when you' m ready ter mek it!'
    'I didn't mean that Dad...'
    'I'll gerra pie at the pub. A fine thing when a bloke cor gerra meal in 'is own 'ouse after a weeks work! When 'is daughter is too busy flauntin' 'erself on the Clent 'ills like any brass faced tart.'
    'Dad!'
    'Well, it's true ay it?' he shouted belligerently.
    'No it's not true! I was with Clancy Sullivan.'
    'Arr. An' everybody knows what yo' was up to!'
    Anna's face flamed crimson. 'Don't you dare... don't you dare say such a thing!'
    'I'll dare what I want in me own 'ouse ma wench, an' do' yo' forget it! Yo' was off wi' that painter chap Nicholson the night yer Mom died...'
    Anna let out a shriek and sprang at him. Her father swung his arm to fend her off, and caught her with a heavy swipe across her cheek. The blow knocked Anna across the room, and for a few seconds she blacked out as she slid slowly down the wall. George Gibson hesitated for a moment, then went out and slammed the door.
    When Will arrived half an hour later, the kettle was singing on the hob, and Anna was seated by the fire, weeping quietly.
    ‘What's to do our Anna?' Will bent over and put his hand under her chin. His face darkened as he noticed the red marks on the side of her cheek.
    ''As our Dad been at it again?' he asked.
    Anna