Free The Watercress Girls by Sheila Newberry Page A

She followed Evie to the entrance.
    Walter looked up. He was rocking the pram handle. Robbie was almost asleep.
    ‘Ena, this is our cousin Walter from Mitcham. Walter, this is Ena,’ Evie said.
    Walter was on his feet, holding out his hand. Ena didn’t respond.
    ‘Shall we walk in the gardens?’ Evie asked quickly, releasing the pram brake.
    ‘If you like,’ Ena mumbled. Her expression was quite blank.
    They found a wooden bench fitted round a tree-trunk. The shade was welcome. Evie and Ena sat together, Walter on the far side, with his book.
    ‘Robbie has grown, hasn’t he?’ Evie willed Ena to look at her baby.
    ‘Yes,’ Ena said indifferently. She added: ‘They say I can leave here soon.’
    ‘Oh … that’s good news, isn’t it?’
    ‘You needn’t worry. I won’t come back to the Plough. Or to Ronnie and the baby. It … would only happen again, I know that. My mother will have me. She was frightened when I was shouting, but, as you can see, I’m calm now.’
    ‘Does Ronnie know?’
    ‘He will be told, when the time comes.’
    ‘Don’t you love him any more?’ Evie had to find that out.
    ‘As I said, it would only happen again.…’
    Robbie stirred. Evie reached for his bottle, wrapped in muslin. ‘Would you like to nurse him?’ she appealed.
    Ena jumped up. ‘ Leave me alone !’ she hissed, and stalked off without a backward glance.
    Walter came round the tree-trunk, looking concerned. Evie lifted Robbie up, with tears spilling from her eyes, and offered him the bottle.
    Walter’s arm went comfortingly round her shoulders. ‘You did your best,’ he said.
     
    It was October, and Mattie had been gone for six months. Evie had not returned to school in September. She looked forward to letters from Mattie, and now, from Walter. Her mother, she knew, perused them later, but there was nothing she could object to. However, she managed to write to her sister once without her mother being aware of it.
    Dearest Mattie,
    I need to tell my thoughts to someone, and I hope you don’t mind that it is you! You say you have a secret you are longing to tell us, but we have to wait a couple of weeks first! I hope it is about you and Griff. Well, I only have worries to share.
    Mother is still hoping that Ena will come back to Ronnie and the baby. Ena’s mother is out working all day in the fields, they live in a tied cottage as you know. Mother does not think it is wise for Ena to spend so much time on her own.
    You say I should keep up with my studies at home, well, my only chance to read is when I go to bed, and then I am so tired, my eyes close before I turn more than a page or two. The only bright spot this year was when Walter was here!
    We will be even busier shortly. We are having paying guests, a mother and daughter. The younger lady is taking up a teaching post at the grammar school in town. Her mother is crippled with arthritis so will need our help. The good thing is they will pay for this too, so we will be much better off.
    Well, I must get this in the post. Write as soon as you can, as your letters buck me up no end. Your loving sister, Evie.
    Mattie received a letter from Sophia the same day, excited that things were looking up at last, in respect of the paying guests. Mattie decided to write back by return of post.
    Dear Mother,
    Good news indeed! Just a thought, I don’t mean to meddle! Would it be possible now for you to employ a girl to look after little Robbie, and for Evie to return to school for another year or two? I was lucky not to leave until I was fifteen, after all.
    Please do consider it!
    As promised, I will be home for a few days’ holiday shortly. Business is very slow just now, so it is a good time to come. Griff is looking forward to meeting you and Dad and thanks you for the kind invitation. If you have a ‘full house’ by then, perhaps he could share with Ronnie?
    Fondest love from your affectionate daughter, Mattie.
    Sophia discussed Mattie’s suggestion with Will.