Free A Pearl for Love by Mary Cummins

’ s a Saturday. ’
    ‘ We ’ d manage without you for one day now that Prycey is back, ’ Elizabeth told her, and Catherine restrained the impulse to hug her. Somehow Elizabeth wasn ’ t the sort of girl one hugged. All she ever managed for her mother was a cool kiss on the cheek, and Catherine often wondered if she had saved all her love for Michael.
    ‘ It would be wonderful if I could go, ’ she said eagerly, and when James Sheridan came in, and gave her permission, she was delighted.
    Catherine bought a new suit and hat for the wedding. She had already telephoned Mrs. Neill who invited her to stay overnight until Sunday, and as Catherine travelled north on the train, she laid aside the magazines John had bought for her, and gazed out at the passing fields, and small lonely houses perched high on hillsides between each town. She had much to think about.
    Recently she had been avoiding Michael Rodgers, taking care never to be alone with him. Often she would look up to find his dark eyes fixed on her, and she was becoming more and more shy of him. That he and Elizabeth were often at odds was also becoming apparent, and Catherine was conscious of tension growing in the shop which, offered every sign of peace and tranquillity to its customers.
    Often, too, Michael was out of the shop for fairly long periods, which caused Uncle James to frown a little. He liked to deliver the larger clocks himself, and to see them properly installed, and keeping perfect time.
    ‘ It ’ s essential to give this service, ’ Michael said, ‘ because people trust you to do the best for them. ’
    ‘ Even to sending them somewhere else when they come in to look at our range ?’ asked Uncle James, rather dryly, and Michael flushed a dull red.
    ‘ Yes, ’ he said defiantly.
    ‘ Sometimes people like to see a good variety of clocks, even if they have something special in mind, ’ Uncle James argued. ‘ It could be that something we have would have suited them much better. Only you don ’ t always give them the opportunity, Michael. They get sent along to Newdox before you ’ ve talked to them for five minutes. ’
    ‘ Maybe they send people to us, if they haven ’ t got what a customer wants either, ’ argued Michael.
    ‘ Maybe. ’ Uncle James ’ s tone was dry and he stroked his upper lip thoughtfully.
    ‘ Anyway, if sales are bad, why don ’ t you have a word with John? ’ asked Michael, his cheeks still flushed and his eyes sparkling.
    ‘ John? ’
    ‘ Yes. He ’ s fond of paying too high a price for secondhand pieces which people bring in. He ’ d get them very much cheaper if he tried. ’
    It was John ’ s turn to colour.
    ‘ I give people a fair price if they want to sell anything, ’ he said, very quietly. ‘ We do a good trade in secondhand goods. Lots of people prefer to buy them, because there ’ s no tax. ’
    ‘ Even if new is often better cut and better set. ’
    ‘ That ’ s true, but it ’ s people we ’ re dealing with, and if they think they ’ re going to be happy with an older secondhand piece, then why shouldn ’ t they have it? Some of the pieces are lovely after I ’ ve cleaned them up. People allow their jewellery to get dirty, when they wouldn ’ t dream of using a soiled handkerchief. ’
    ‘ Even so, you won ’ t make much profit at the prices you offer. ’
    ‘ Oh, for goodness ’ sake !’ said John crossly. ‘ We ’ ll get nowhere if we keep watching one another all the time. ’
    ‘ I agree, ’ said Michael, and James stood looking from one to the other.
    ‘ Nevertheless, things aren ’ t going as well as they might for the firm at the moment, ’ he said quietly.
    ‘ I hope you ’ ll both bear it in mind. The cost of modernising the shop, both inside and out, was considerable, and although we took a chance on mode rn -styled jewellery, which I have never liked myself, the public don ’ t seem to appreciate it either. ’
    ‘ Give it time, ’ said John. ‘