Free No Wings to Fly by Jess Foley

fair. Why shouldn’t there be women advocates? After all, Portia did pretty well.’
    ‘Portia – oh,
The Merchant of Venice
. Yes, she did. But she had Shakespeare on her side.’
    They laughed together. ‘On the Sunday,’ he said, ‘when you come back – will you be in time to visit the old lady?’
    ‘Yes. I’m getting back in the morning.’
    ‘Then I’ll wait for you by the gates – is that all right?’
    ‘Well,’ she said, smiling, looking off past his ear, ‘it’s a free country.’

Chapter Four
    The following Sunday morning, the fifth of August, Lily set off to get her train for Compton Wells, sitting in the trap with Mr Haskin holding the reins. Although he often went into the factory for an hour or two on a Sunday, on this day he would be going to Henhurst to pick up Mrs Shalcross and bring her back to the house for midday dinner. It would be no inconvenience, he had said to Lily, to take her to the station first and then call for his mother-in-law. So, late that morning she sat beside him as the vehicle bounced and rumbled over the rough roads, and did her best to relax in his company. It was not so easy. It was not often that she found herself alone with him, and when it happened she invariably found herself a little in awe of him, a little intimidated by his rather jovial way and his teasing questions.
    Today as they drove he began to speak of his friendship with Lily’s father, recalling times they had shared when they were younger and had fought together with the British army. Lily was fascinated to hear his recollections, and glad of them too, for her father rarely made reference to his earlier days in the military. Afterwards, with one subject leading to another, Mr Haskin went on to speak of his work at the factory, and related two or three anecdotes concerning some of the customers and employees. He had a comical, witty way with his stories, and Lily found herself genuinely amused. As he went on, she remarked on the long hours he worked. He seemed to take so little rest, she observed.
    ‘The work’s got to get done,’ he replied. ‘It’s as simple as that. And it’s not always possible to get the right people.’
    ‘Have you,’ Lily said, tentatively, ‘ever thought about employing more women at the company, sir?’
    ‘Well,’ he said, keeping his eyes on the road, ‘we’ve got Miss Carter working in the office.’
    ‘Yes, I know, but she’s the only one, and she’s an older, maiden lady – and your partner is her brother. I meant – would you employ younger women?’
    ‘Such as you, Lily, you mean.’ He turned and glanced at her now.
    ‘Well – yes.’
    ‘I reckon you’ve got tired of bein’ a maid, have you?’
    ‘Well – I was eighteen last month, sir, and almost three years I’ve been with you and Mrs Haskin. A maid’s petty place only lasts a year, generally. No maid stays in a post this long. Particularly at my age.’ She added quickly, ‘No offence, sir, you understand.’
    ‘None taken.’ He paused. ‘Well,’ he said after a moment, ‘I don’t doubt that you’re too smart to go maiding all your working life. You’re your father’s daughter, and you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, so it’s not surprising you’d be wanting something better. Though I don’t mind telling you that Mrs Haskin and I would be sorry to see you go.’
    ‘Thank you, sir.’
    ‘Mind you, I reckon at your age many girls are leaving service anyway, going off and getting married.’ He grinned. ‘Isn’t there some young man for you, Lily? Some nice young fellow with a bob or two in his pocket who’s desperate to marry you? Pretty girl like you, there should be. Must be somebody round Whitton way. Not that you get much time for courting, though, I daresay – and it’s all very well for you to be reading your books, but there are other things in life.’
    Lily said nothing to this, but looked straight ahead. Mr Haskin too was silent for a moment, then he