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Daniel's vegetables, too, were a write-off.

The drought had not only affected the land but had definitely impregnated the tempers of all who worked on it and even those who didn't, because now Pattie and John were in an argument that had started as a discussion with Daniel and Janie. The divided opinions had brought sharp rejoinders, such as when Daniel said with weary cynicism, `Well, I don't know why we're bothering about the land. Why don't we just let the coal owners and the shipyard magnates take it over as they're doing here, there and everywhere. I'd like to bet their gardens are not going short of water and their horses are still pulling their four-in-hands.`

`Well, as you're talking about that, Daniel, the four-in-hands and the gardens and the mansions all give employment to one section of society, and the places where they've made their money keep hundreds, if not thousands, alive.`

`Yes, but where, John? Down in the depths of the earth; and they are working for starvation wages in shipyards.`

`That's nonsense!` said Pattie. `Look at Palmers in Jarrow; the workers there are able to buy their own properties.`

Òh, Jarrow!` said Daniel, 379 tossing his head, `You'd think Palmers was the only shipyard on God's earth. What about the docks? Have you read about London dockers living like rats, and eating like rats an' all?`

`We're not talking about London, we're talking about this end of the country.`

Òh, as long as they're all right at this end, damn London! damn everybody else!`

`Daniel, and you, Pattie--` Moira looked from one to the other now, and her voice was quiet and rather weary sounding as she said, Ì think this discussion should come to an end.` Then smiling, she added, Ìf we were in Ireland you, Daniel and John, would both have your coats off and the blood would be flowing by now. And there would be you, Pattie, standing with a shillelagh and ready to hit your brother on the head should he be the winner.`

They were all forced to grin sheepishly now and Moira, looking towards Janie, said, `There's one who hasn't opened her mouth for five minutes. And, you know, you started this, Janie, didn't you? talking about the residents of the historic houses of this country not having the respect that was once considered their due, and all

because of the doings of the Prince of Wales and his associations with certain ladies ... one in particular.`

`Yes ... but I wasn't condemning them--I mean the populace--nor the Prince, because I've always considered the old Queen much too rigid in her ideas.`

`What does your father think?` put in John.

Òh, along the same lines. I think I've imbibed my ideas from him; he's a very liberal man.`

Ànd your mother?`

Àh!` Janie smiled now. `No matter what Mother thinks she goes along with Father.`

`Well, there you are--ìt was Pattie now waving her hand at Janie as she said, ìt dies hard. Papa says stand, we all stand; Papa says sit, we all sit.`

Ìt isn't like that at all, Pattie,` replied Janie quickly. `Father is a very moderate man. He has travelled a great deal in his business; he's seen the rights and wrongs in many countries, but he always comes back and says

we are the most liberal country in the 381 world.`

`Then God help the rest of them, that's all I say, Janie.`

Àll right, Pattie; you say what you think, and I'll say what I think. And when John and Daniel have taken their coats off and bloodied their noses, you and I will pull out each other's hair.`

There was real laughter at this, and when it died down Moira said, Òh, I could be back in the old country; except for the blood and the cursing, I could be right there.`

Òh, we'll provide the cursing,` said John. `Where would you like to start? I can go through the alphabet.`

Ì've no doubt about that, John,` said Moira; `but if you ask my opinion, we all need a cup of strong tea with plenty of sugar in it, and perhaps just a drop of Saint Patrick's potion, or the Devil's temptation. No, nò --she put up her hand to check Janie rising-- Ì want to escape from the battle zone, so just leave it to me.Àfter Moira had left the room there was an

embarrassed silence for a moment until Pattie, addressing Daniel, said, `Does she talk about Ireland very much?`

`No, not at all.`

`Well, I'd like to bet that she thinks about it all the more. She's not the same, is she? The life seems to have gone out of her. It was the loss of Maggie Ann, and then the baby on top of it.`

`We all miss Maggie Ann,` Daniel said quietly.

Ànd what about Sean? That boy hardly ever opens his mouth. At one time he used to jabber away to me. The last time I came, that priest was here talking to him. Do you think he's a good influence?`

Daniel looked to the side for a moment, which appeared as though he were trying to recollect something, but what he was aiming to do was to push the thought of Sean and his silence into the back of his mind yet again. He knew what he should have done from the moment he found that piece of wood; but how could he have confronted that child and said, `You have deliberately killed your father ... my father?` No.

It was something that had to be buried, in case Moira should have the slightest suspicion. One thing 383 he hadn't been able to do was let himself be alone with the boy; although he was not really a boy but some fey creature, one that only Moira's land could produce.

Ì don't know. Moira's showing no objection, and after all she's a Catholic, and it is her business, so I don't interfere.`

Changing the subject, John now said, Ìt's amazing how Michael's come on, isn't it? He chatters like a little parrot now. It's often the way, you know, with children who start late: once they've got the feel of their tongue they wag it incessantly. And he walks steadily, now, doesn't he?`

`When is her daughter coming again?` Pattie asked Janie. `You saw her when she was last here; you said you had a long talk with her. Did she say where she was going?`

`Presumably back to her home in France.`

Ìs that all she said?`

`Look, dear sister,` Daniel put in, `stop pestering Janie. How could she remember all that was said? And anyway, it's none of your

business. You're a proper Nosey Parker, always were. That husband of yours`--he glanced at John--`should keep you in order. God protect me from free-thinking women.` Then, as he was passing Janie's chair, he bent over her and said, `Don't follow her lead, I'm telling you, because I don't want to have to fight with you an' all.Àfter he had left the room Pattie looked at Janie, who was leaning back in her chair, her eyes half closed, and her hand gently wafting the collar of her white silk open-necked blouse, and she said, `You know something? He is the most stupid individual of a man that ever stepped into trousers!`

`Pattie!` John's tone held a slight reprimand, and she turned on him, saying, `Well, he is. Something should be done with him.` ...

That night, when she got home, Pattie took up her pen and wrote a letter, and it was concerned with what she considered should be done with her brother.

385

2

It was a Saturday morning and Daniel was in Fellburn talking to the wholesaler. Mr Baxter was bemoaning his fate. Ì tell you, Mr Stewart,` he was saying, `this drought is going to kill more businesses off than the cholera killed people. There's hardly a thing coming in from round about, and as for the prices in the market, why, you could buy a gold watch for what they're wantin' for a pound of vegetables these days. And there's no let-up, for when it does decide to rain there'll be floods, you'll see. The topsoil's just like dust now, blown clean off in many places; but come the rain the rest will go in floods. I tell you it's ruination. It's all over the country, but not so bad as up here, because the wheat lands down there are surviving whereas the corn crops here have just perished. How are you faring? But need I ask?`

`No, you needn't ask, Mr Baxter: as things are now, they can't last much longer. It's the cattle I'm worried about.`

`Well, you're surviving, an' that's something, because Rington's gone bust. Did you know that?`

Ì heard he was in a bad way.`

Àye; we're all in a bad way. Just look round you here: empty crates. And how the poor buggers in Bog's End are surviving, God alone knows. But I'll tell you something.` His voice lowered and he took a step nearer to Daniel as he said, `You were connected with the Talbots, weren't you, at one time? Well, he's still bringing stuff in. Now I ask you, how's he managing that? Not a lot, I'll grant you, but more than anybody else round here, and you can't grow vegetables by spitting on them. I think the water company want to take a walk around there. What d'you say?`

Daniel said nothing to this, but shrugging his shoulders he turned away, saying, `Well, I'll be seeing you one of these days with full skips, I hope.`

`So do I, Mr Stewart. So do I.`

Daniel did not go into the market because he couldn't bear to see the sparsely dressed stalls, nor the prices they were asking for inferior quality produce. Instead, he made for the main street and a draper's shop, because Moira had asked him to get her some silks and some thread.

He was within some yards of the shop when there 387 emerged from it a well-dressed young woman.

She turned in his direction, then stopped, and he could not pass her on the narrow pavement as there were cabs, carts, traps and drays filling the road. So he stood, and she stood, and they looked at each other. He noted that she was dressed as he'd never seen her before, well-dressed although in a flaunting fashion. Her light straw hat had a stream of ribbons hanging from it and she was wearing a lilac dress with a square neck which showed her creamy skin to advantage, and on top of the dress was a cream silk dust coat.

`Well! Well!` she said.

He gave no answer to this but looked at her closely. She was still beautiful; in fact, more so than when he had last seen her, which was well over a year ago. And she seemed to have matured in that time. The girl was gone: the figure had developed, particularly her bust, and the woman was very much to the fore. But it was her face that held his attention.

`Wonderful weather we're having, don't you think?`

Still he made no answer.

Ì hear your land is like a desert and nearly all your crops have failed. It must be worrying for you.`

`Just a bit`--his voice sounded quite level --`but if I knew where to steal water, which is against the law, I would, like your father, be able to carry on my business.`

She stared at him and he watched the stiff smile slide from her face and her lips become compressed, while the light in her eyes darkened, before she said, Ì'm going to be married soon. Think of that when you're sweating your life out in that desert of yours among the crop of Irish idiots.`

There flared up inside him the desire to lift his hand and send her flying. He saw her for the first time as a cheap creature, a spiteful creature, and he couldn't prevent himself from hitting back, if only verbally, by saying, Ì do hope that your rush to the altar is not being occasioned by your seduction of poor Ray.`

He watched her breasts rise until they pressed the slack coat apart; her face aflame, she hissed at him, Ì

hate you, Daniel Stewart, and I'll hate you till I

die;` then she turned about; but a 389 voice calling, `Fran!` turned her once more towards Daniel, and she looked beyond him, then tossed her head in the air. He, too, turned and saw Ray Melton standing beside a horse and trap that was tethered outside the post office. At this Daniel strode into the draper's shop.

He bought two bobbins of thread and was given half a paper strip of pins to make up for the farthing change. Having thanked the assistant, who said, Ìt's been a pleasure serving you, sir. Please call again,`

he emerged from the shop. To his surprise he was confronted by his one-time friend.

Ray was the first to speak: he said, `What did you say to her? You've upset her. What did you say?`

`What did I say to her? Oh`-- Daniel's voice was airy--Ì forget; it was of no importance.`

Ray Melton now cast his glance downwards for a moment, then nipped on his bottom lip before he said, Ì knew we would meet up sometime and ... and to tell you the truth I've been dreading it, because we were friends, weren't we?` He was now

looking fully at Daniel as he went on, Ànd it must have seemed a dirty trick; but there you are, you know what effect she had on you, and I might as well tell you, Daniel, that I fell for her from the first--I just couldn't help myself--but as long as you were in the running I kept on the sideline. However, once I understood it was broken up ... well, I ask you, what would you have done?`

Daniel drew in a long breath and let it out slowly before he said, `Likely much the same.`

Ray Melton half-smiled now as he said, `You're not sore at me? Well, I thought you'd be mad.`

Òne grows up.`

This reply seemed to puzzle Ray Melton, but he nodded and said, Ì ... I suppose so. Well, anyway, I'm glad I've spoken to you, because I can tell you I felt pretty awful at the time.`

`You had no need. I wish you luck.` Daniel pulled out his watch. Ì have an appointment; I must be off.`

Òh. Oh well, goodbye, Daniel. As I said, I'm glad I spoke to you and ... and that you're all right.` 391

`Never better. Goodbye, Ray.`

He turned about, knowing that his desire to strike Frances had been nothing to what he had wanted to do to Ray. How he had stopped himself from lashing out at his one-time friend he didn't know. And yet it wasn't Ray he was really mad at; it wasn't him he wanted to hurt, it was her. As he had looked at her he had thought, She's a slut, and a mean one into the bargain. Yes, that's what he had thought as he looked at her; and she had had the nerve to call Moira's family a crop of Irish idiots!

Well, it was over, and when he came to think about it, Ray had played the game honestly from the beginning, for he himself had had no inkling of how Ray felt about her.

Of a sudden he experienced a sense of relief, for he knew he had been dreading meeting her face to face; he had been afraid of his own reactions. Although for months now he had slept without going through the torment of his loss, he still knew he was haunted by the beauty of her. And on first sight of her this morning he realised that the woman had grown more beautiful than the girl; that is until her face had darkened with her venom and obliterated the appeal of those melting eyes, the soft lips, and the skin which he had but to touch to make his blood race and his feelings heat up as if under a brazier.