i f6c06dd9cf3fe221 by Unknown (the false prince .TXT) 📕

Sarah started slightly when a little dumpy woman with grey hair and twinkling eyes stepped noiselessly into the kitchen from the front-room. Mrs. Mullen came to the improvised cradle and nodded, smiling down on the baby.

"By! she's lovely, Sarah," she whispered.

"How's he?" She jerked her head sharply towards the ceiling.

"He's just the same. I'm expecting doctor today," Sarah whispered back.

"Sit down, Maggie."

Mrs. Mullen, making a wry face, refused the proffered arm-chair and pulled up a small crack et to the fire.

"This'll do me; I mustn't stay long. I've just sent the whole bang lot of them out to draw their Christmas clubs. They've got twenty-five shillings on their cards between the six of them; God knows what they'll buy. But I say, let them buy what they like, they're only young once. But it'll be hell let loose when they bring all their ket back; so I won't stay long, Sarah, for we'll have him'--she nodded again to the ceiling--'banging on the wall and cursing like old Harry."

"The kettle's boiling, I'll mash the tea now," said Sarah.

"Tell me, what are you putting in their stockings?"

"Oh, all kinds. Mick's had a few good weeks. And the things he's bought 1 You'd never believe. Come in the night, when we're filling them, and see. By! you're all done," she said, looking around the room.

"And don't your window-sill look grand! I've never seen owl like them flowers; they weren't in bloom when I was in last."

Going to the window, Sarah lifted two pots.

"I want you to have these for a Christmas-box, Maggie. I can't give you anything else, but I'd like you to have these."

"No, lass. No. Kate brought them for you."

"Sh!" said Sarah warningly.

"Take them, Maggie;

they're so little for all the kindness you've shown me. "

"Well, thanks, Sarah ... I do like a flower. By! they're grand."

"I'll take this up first," said Sarah, filling a pint pot with tea, and adding four heaped teaspoons of sugar. She disappeared up the dark stairs, leaving Maggie Mullen sitting on the crack et comparing the seeming spaciousness around her with her own cramped quarters next door. Ten of them in four box-like rooms, and two of the eight children nearly young men; it was such a crush. But still, please God, give her her lot any day before Sarah's, with

her tour rooms for two people and a baby. By God, yes; any day I Sarah re-entered the kitchen, closing the stair door softly behind her. She poured out two cups of black tea and handed one to Mrs.

Mullen.

"Thanks, Sarah," said Maggie.

"By the way, did you hear Big Dixon's got her other one?"

No! When? "

"Eleven o'clock last night. Another boy. That's the sixth; she'll be all right for money later on. By! the place won't hold her when they all start working; you can't keep her down now since she's got her Mary in place at the doctor's. Do you know she bought a gramophone only last week?"

"No!"

"Yes, with a horn on it the size of a poss tub; you'd think shed have plenty noise with six weens round her, wouldn't you, now?"

"Who has she got looking after her?"

"Oh, Dome Clarke, of course! She can't afford a gramophone and Nurse Snell!"

Here the two women chuckled and sipped their tea.

"Very few people are having Dome Clarke now," continued Mrs. Mullen.

"Can you blame them? She reeks of gin. And how she has the nerve to go to the altar rails every Sunday morning. God alone knows and He won't split!"

"Oh," whispered Sarah, 'don't make me laugh, Maggie. "

"Laugh!" said Maggie; "I wish I could. I'd like to see you laugh until you split yer stays."

Sarah's weary face took on a sudden glow, and she smiled across the hearth at her friend.

"I've got a funny feeling today, Maggie; as if life was going to change for the better. That is, as if something was going to happen ...

perhaps it's only Kate coming home; I don't know Oh, here she is!"

The back-door opened and Kate came in, carrying a ; heavy suitcase. She put down the case, closed the door, and then stood looking at her mother and Mrs. Mullen , who had both risen and were staring back at her, with eyes wide and mouths agape.

Kate lifted her arms from her sides and smiled at her mother.

"Do you like them, ma?" she asked.

"Name of God, Kate, where did you get them clothes?"

Do you like them? " persisted Kate. " Hinny . you look . oh, Kate!

"Sarah could find no words.

"Aye, Kate, you do look luvly. My, I've never seen owl like them before!" put in Mrs. Mullen.

Sarah went to her daughter. They didn't kiss, but stood for a second cheek pressed against cheek. Then Sarah stepped back.

"Where did you get them, lass?" A trace of anxiety showed in her voice.

"Miss Tolmache gave them to me for a Christmas box. Aren't they lovely, ma?"

"Lovely," murmured Sarah, 'lovely. "

"By! lass, you look like a real..." Mrs. Mullen had been going to say 'lady', but, on the face of what had happened last year, felt it would be a little out of place; so she added, 'toff. "

"Miss Tolmache had the costume and hat specially made for me, and she took me out yesterday and bought me the shoes. Look at the fur round the bottom of the coat?" Kate held up the bottom of the three-quarter length mole-coloured coat for her mother to inspect the trimming of dark-brown fur.

"And feel how thick the material is, ma. And look at my hat; she had it made to match, and trimmed with fur too."

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