Free Anne Douglas by Tenement Girl Page A

Dalrymple, then?’
    ‘A bit better, but staying where she is for the time being. Miss Rosemary visits regularly.’
    ‘Tell me this,’ said Lindy, after a pause, ‘are you going to keep on calling this lassie “Miss Rosemary” when she’s living here?’
    Jemima’s look was shocked. ‘Why, what else should I call her?’
    ‘Well, things are different now. You aren’t working for her mother any more. You’re equals, eh?’
    ‘Equals? She’s still Mrs Dalrymple’s daughter, Lindy. Losing money hasn’t changed the way things are.’
    ‘So what are the rest of us going to call her, then?’
    ‘I couldn’t say. Miss Dalrymple, maybe?’
    ‘And I’ll be Miss Gillan?’ Lindy laughed. ‘Come on, Jemima, this girl’s in a different world now, whatever you say. But I’ll have to admit, I’m longing to see her. When will she be coming?’
    ‘As soon as we’ve finished the flat,’ Jemima answered eagerly. ‘And we’re starting tomorrow!’
    Naturally, as she was Jemima’s ex-employer’s daughter, all in number nineteen were taking great interest in the pending arrival of the new tenant. Fallen on hard times, so Jemima said, but my, wasn’t Jemima knocking doors out o’ windows, then, getting a place ready for her? And how much was it all going to cost? Who was paying? If it was Jemima, would the young lady be able to pay her back?
    ‘If she’s short she can always sell some o’ that furniture she’s had sent over,’ remarked Myra with a sniff. ‘I saw it coming in. Everything mahogany, with such a polish you could see your face in it, and the prettiest wee dressing table decked out in frilled material and all! Anybody would think that girl was still in Heriot Row, eh?’
    ‘I believe she had to pay something to get that furniture from the creditors,’ Lindy told her. ‘So Jemima said. Must’ve felt fed up about that. Her ma’s own furniture!’
    ‘H’m, well, I’d be sympathetic if it wasn’t for Jemima making such a fuss. I mean, you’d think it was royalty coming here, no less.’
    ‘And that’s true,’ Lindy commented afterwards to Neil. ‘Anyone would think it was some princess coming the way Jemima’s been going on. I do feel sorry for her Rosemary, but she’s no’ as badly off as some, eh?’
    ‘You can say that again,’ said Neil earnestly. ‘I’ve no sympathy with that sort at all. I mean, how’d they get their money in the first place? Investments? Stocks and shares? All completely immoral. There’s no work involved, no production, no creation. Why should we shed tears if they lose money? Let ’em see how the rest of us have to live.’
    ‘To be fair, Neil, the lassie can’t be blamed for the way her folks live, eh? I mean, you’ve no choice where you’re born. And then Jemima says her dad wasn’t one o’ the idle rich – he did have a job.’
    ‘Oh, yes? Worked his fingers to the bone, did he? Doing what?’
    ‘I’m no’ sure. Merchant banker, I think.’
    ‘Merchant banker?’ Neil exploded into laughter. ‘Oh, what a struggle he’d have to live, doing that! Look, let’s waste no more time talking about this Rosemary. Just remember, she’s no better than anybody else, so don’t go thinking she is.’
    ‘As if I would!’ cried Lindy, adding to herself, but she’s sure to have better clothes.

Sixteen
    On an August evening – too nice to go to the pictures, really – Lindy and Neil were about to saunter out from number nineteen to see
Top Hat
when Jemima caught them at the door.
    ‘Lindy, Neil – wait! Don’t go yet, she’s here! Miss Rosemary. I’ve seen the taxi!’
    ‘Taxi?’ Neil repeated, putting his head out of the door. ‘Oh, sure, it’s there. I can see a lassie getting out.’
    ‘We never knew she was coming tonight,’ Lindy exclaimed. ‘Aunt Myra will be furious – she’s out to her whist drive!’
    ‘Let me through, Miss Rosemary will be looking for me!’ cried Jemima, her face flushing, her eyes bright. ‘But