Brow of the Gallowgate

by Doris Davidson

  Bouncing to her feet, Ellie cried, ‘Thank you, Grandma. I feel better now I know. You won’t tell Mother, will you?’

  ‘It’ll be oor secret.’ She patted the girl’s hand kindly. ‘Now, off you go, an’ let an auld woman get some peace.’

  As Ellie neared the top of Market Street on her way home, she was astonished to see Jack Lornie standing at the corner.

  ‘How did you know where I was?’ she demanded.

  He looked rather sheepish. ‘I followed you, and I saw you turning down here, so I waited. I knew you’d be coming back.’

  ‘I went to ask my Grandma something. Jack, I’m sorry for walking away from you like that, it was very rude of me.’

  ‘If you’d told me you were going to see your Grandma, I’d have walked with you. I couldn’t understand you going off so suddenly, and I thought you were annoyed at me for kissing you like that. I won’t do it again, if you don’t want me to.’

  Ellie looked up at him frankly. ‘I wasn’t annoyed, and you can kiss me again, whenever you like.’

  Jack needed no second invitation and pulled her into a doorway, but she was slightly disappointed that his kisses had lost their ardour, although they were still quite exciting.

  When he released her, he said, ‘You’ll never walk away from me again, will you?’

  ‘No, I promise. Will I see you again tomorrow night?’

  ‘Tomorrow, and every other night I’m not working. Oh, Ellie, I love you an awful lot.’

  ‘I love you an awful lot, too, Jack,’ she whispered.

  Her mother, alone in the parlour, regarded her daughter shrewdly when she went inside. ‘Is it still Jack Lornie?’

  The happiness inside the girl was too great to hide, and she burst out, ‘He told me tonight he loved me.’

  Bathie’s eyes glinted in amusement. ‘And I take it you love him, too, or you wouldn’t be in such a state about it?’

  ‘Oh, yes, Mother, I love him. More than I’ve ever loved anybody in my whole life, even Spanny.’

  It was so incongruous, so like Ellie to compare the boy with their old dog, that Bathie couldn’t stop the smile which spread across her face.

  ‘It’s not funny.’

  ‘No, my dear, being in love’s not funny.’ Bathie’s face sobered. ‘It’s the most wonderful thing in the whole world.’

  Running across the room, Ellie knelt down on the rug in front of her mother’s chair. ‘Did you love Father?’

  ‘Oh, yes. I felt like you do, at first, but that changes as time goes on, and becomes deeper and more enduring. I still love your father, Ellie, with all my heart.’

  ‘Do you? I’d never thought about that, but I suppose you really have to love a man before you can live your whole life with him.’ Pausing briefly, Ellie raised her frank blue eyes. ‘Mother, did you keep yourself pure till you were married?’

  Somewhat taken aback, Bathie returned her daughter’s gaze steadily for a moment. ‘Your father was a decent man and that problem never arose.’ Wondering what had prompted Ellie to ask such a question, she said, ‘Has your Jack tried to . . . ?’

  ‘No, he hasn’t. He’s decent, too – I think. Mother, can I ask him to come to supper some time?’

  ‘That’s a good idea, then we can all meet him.’

  ‘And you’ll all like him, I’m sure.’

  When Ellie took him into the parlour the following Sunday, his disarming smile won Bathie round at once, and she liked the way his brown wavy hair curled round his ears. They made a fine couple, Jack being a good bit taller than the five-feet-seven girl.

  Albert saw a tall young man, whose eyes met his with appealing honesty. The oval face was finely proportioned, the mouth was strong and firm. He’d been rather afraid that the boy would be an easily-led, weak specimen who’d had no say in the matter, and was glad that he’d been wrong. Ellie wouldn’t be able to order Jack Lornie around, but maybe she wouldn’t even want to try.

  Bathie tried to make the young man feel at home. It was obvious that he was deeply in love with Ellie, but just as obvious that he was uncomfortable at meeting her parents.

  Albert let the others do the talking until he had sized Jack up properly. He seemed a bit shy, which was only right and proper, but he was soon chatting to Bathie quite naturally, his eyes resting on Ellie occasionally, with so much love in them that her father was satisfied. He’d have no objections to his favourite daughter marrying this man if she wanted to.

  More introductions had to be made when Donnie came home, and again when Charlie and Vena came downstairs, and by the time they sat down to supper, Albert was treating Jack like an old acquaintance and the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

  Gracie and Flo did all the dishing up, serving, offering second helpings and clearing away, while Hetty and Ishbel just looked at Ellie’s ‘lad’ and wished they were older.

  Waiting for the last course, Bathie leaned back and let her eyes rove round the table. It must be terrible for Jack, meeting the Ogilvie clan en masse, she reflected, and wished that things had been like this for Charlie and Vena, but they looked happy enough now. Who would be next to bring a loved one to meet the family? Donnie? Flo? A light touch on her arm broke into tier thoughts.

  ‘Are you feeling all right, my love?’

  ‘I’m fine, Albert. Just thinking.’

  He squeezed her hand under the table. ‘Aye, it’s times like this that make you think.’

  Donnie excused himself as soon as the meal was over. ‘I’m meeting somebody at seven, so I’ll have to hurry.’

  ‘A lassie?’ Albert’s eyes twinkled.

  ‘No, just one of the lads. I’ve got more sense than Jack and Charlie, and I can’t be bothered with girls.’

  ‘Maybe they can’t be bothered with you.’ Charlie stood up. ‘Nice to have met you, Jack, and we’ll see you again, no doubt?’ Turning to his mother, he said, ‘We’re going upstairs now.’ He took Vena’s hand and they followed Donnie out.

  ‘Can we go up to our room, as well, Mother?’ It was Hetty. ‘Ishbel and me haven’t finished playing Ludo.’

  ‘Off you go.’ Bathie laughed as they scampered off. ‘They all disappear once they’ve been fed, you see, Jack. Now, we’ll go back to the parlour to let Flo and Gracie clear up.’

  After they moved, the young man seemed ill at ease, and when he rose abruptly a few minutes later, Ellie was shocked. Surely he wasn’t leaving already? What had gone wrong?

  ‘Mr Ogilvie.’ Jack’s voice was squeaky and had a slight tremor. ‘Mr Ogilvie,’ he repeated, more firmly, ‘I haven’t said anything to Ellie yet, but . . .’ He glanced at the girl, whose puzzled eyes made him carry on. ‘We’ve been walking out for over three months now, and I’ve a good job, and we get on well together . . . I mean, we love each other . . . and what I’m trying to say is . . . I’m asking your permission to marry her, if she’ll have me.’

  Albert and Ellie both jumped to their feet.

  ‘Yes, you have my permission,’ Albert said.

  ‘Yes, I’ll have you,’ Ellie cried out, at the same time.

  In the laughter that followed, Bathie also stood up. ‘We couldn’t be happier, could we, Albert?’

  He beamed. ‘No, I’m very pleased. Sit down, for goodness sake, all of you, and we’ll drink to this.’ He stole a quick look at his wife. ‘I promise I’ll not have more than one, my love, but I must celebrate my oldest daughter’s betrothal.’

  Reseating herself, she smiled indulgently. ‘Yes, of course you must, Albert.’

  Jack found a small flat to let in Schoolhill, so Bathie’s old sewing machine was put into use again, and Albert gave them enough money to buy all the furniture they needed.

  Three and a half months after Jack’s introduction to the family, Eleanor Ogilvie became Mrs John Lornie.

  The old wedding dress – kept specifically for Ellie – had been much too short, but Bathie had cut the skirt and inserted a wide strip of matching lace.

  It brought back memories t
o Henrietta. She had worn the same gown when she had been married, as had her daughter. Now, her granddaughter was wearing it, looking completely different from the tomboy she used to be.

  ‘Ellie looks beautiful as a bride,’ she whispered to Arthur, who turned round and looked at his wife for a moment.

  ‘Nearly as beautiful as you were,’ he murmured, at which his wife hastily dabbed her eyes.

  Although she was happy for Ellie, Nell Ogilvie’s thoughts were tinged with sadness. A large family gathering like this really brought it home to her how much she missed her husband. Dear Wattie, who had bought her wedding dress for her because she’d no money. Not a white gown, of course, he could never have afforded that, but it had still been lovely in her eyes – a blue crepe-de-Chine, which she’d kept as best for many years, until it almost fell apart at the seams.

  With tears in her eyes, Bathie watched her daughter as she made her wedding vows, and prayed that Ellie and her Jack would always be as happy as they were that day. They would have their ups and downs – there wasn’t a married couple who hadn’t – but as long as they kept loving each other, they would surmount any difficulties.

  Albert was very pleased that Jack’s parents seemed to be decent folk, but he had to swallow several times during the ceremony to shift the lump in his throat. His darling Ellie, his little girl, belonged to another man now, and by God, Jack Lornie had better look after her for the rest of her life. If he didn’t, he’d have his father-in-law to contend with.

  Part Three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  The murder of an Austrian Archduke couldn’t affect her, Bathie Ogilvie had thought – these foreigners always seemed to be killing each other – so the declaration of war came as a great shock to her. Her sons were of an age when they might be expected to go to fight the Huns, and the only consolation she had was that Albert was too old, but it was small comfort.

  She was scrubbing the kitchen table one morning just two months afterwards, when Vena came in.

  ‘Mother, I want to tell you something.’

  Bathie knew by her face that it must be important, and her low spirits sank even further. She loved her son’s wife like a daughter, and hated to see her so serious.

  ‘Charlie’s made up his mind to enlist.’

  ‘What?’ It was the last thing on Bathie’s mind, and she felt her blood slowly turning to ice. ‘He can’t do that. What about the shop? His father’s often away on council business.’

  ‘He says Donnie could manage, and Flo could help. I’ll miss him, but he’s twenty-four, and he thinks he’s done nothing useful with his life, and I understand how he feels.’

  Her legs turning to jelly, Bathie waited a moment before she spoke. ‘If you both think he’s doing the right thing, then who am I to argue?’ Her heart reminded her that she was the woman who had borne him, the woman who loved him more than she loved any of her other children, but what could she do?

  ‘He’s going this afternoon, but I wanted you to be the first to know.’

  ‘Thank you, Vena, dear. That was very considerate of you.’ How could the girl remain so calm?

  There was great excitement amongst the other members of the family when Charlie’s patriotic urge was made known to them, and the clamour of questions was so loud that it was a few minutes before Donnie could make himself heard.

  ‘I’ve been thinking of enlisting myself, and that settles it. I’ll come with you, Charlie boy.’

  ‘That’s the spirit!’ Albert cried, beaming at them.

  Bathie was very angry that he was encouraging them, and when she tackled him about it in bed that night she hoped that he would at least sympathize with her, understand how she felt, but she was bitterly disappointed.

  ‘Two sons fighting for their country?’ he said proudly. ‘What more could a father ask?’

  ‘They might be killed.’

  He smiled maddeningly. ‘It’ll only take a few months to sort this out, and then they’ll be marching home with the rest of the soldiers – heroes, all of them.’

  Praying that he’d be right, she wished that he’d taken her in his arms when he tried to reassure her, but he seemed to be afraid of any physical contact with her at all, these days. He’d even stopped kissing her goodnight.

  Lying beside her unresponsive husband, she couldn’t help wondering how it would feel to be kissed by Gavin McKenzie. He was a regular visitor now, ever since the day her father had been taken ill, but had given no further sign of his love, although she was almost sure that his feelings hadn’t changed.

  When Nell Ogilvie had met Gavin for the first time, she’d remarked to Bathie later, ‘That doctor’s got an eye for you, but he’s a decent upstandin’ man, an’ he’ll do nothin’ aboot it. Just dinna let your feelin’s for him get the better o’ you, for they could easy get oot o’ hand.’

  Bathie had laughed. ‘One man’s enough for me, Grandma.’

  After several weeks’ training in Perthshire, Charlie and Donnie were sent to separate camps somewhere in France.

  Flo and Gracie had taken their places in the shop – Albert saying that they were just as good as their brothers – and Hetty now helped her mother in the house.

  Vena had joined the V.A.D., to do her bit for her country, and Ishbel, still at school, was hoping that the war would last until she was old enough to be a nurse, too.

  It seemed to Bathie that she had no control over her life any more. Although she felt like an old woman sometimes, she was only forty-one and should be having time to relax, not being a drudge for those of her family still at home.

  She was a wife in name only to Albert, who was hardly fifty and must still have urges to be satisfied. The more she thought about it, the stronger her fears became that he must be finding his pleasure with another woman.

  It was over a year since he’d become a Town Councillor, so he was out quite a lot on his own, and Bathie began to view with suspicion his tales of late-night sittings on committee meetings. But there was no one she could turn to for advice. She could never approach her parents, nor tell Albert’s own mother, however sympathetic Nell usually was. Vena was hardly ever there, and Ellie and Flo would be horrified if she said anything about it to either of them.

  She lived in a constant state of tension, her suspicions becoming certainties in her mind, until they culminated, one afternoon, in a blinding headache which forced her to lie down for an hour. She did feel slightly better when she rose, but couldn’t understand what had caused the attack, and worried about that, too.

  A few days later, with the pains in her head growing so bad that she could hardly bear them, she sent Hetty to ask the doctor to call to see her, then undressed and went to bed, thankful that the house was quiet for a while.

  Gavin McKenzie was there within fifteen minutes. ‘Hetty said you were having very bad headaches.’ He laid his hand on her brow for a moment, then pulled her lower eyelids down.

  ‘They’re really terrible,’ she whispered. ‘They’re so bad, I can hardly see, sometimes.’

  ‘I don’t think there’s anything physically wrong with you, Bathie. Have you been worrying about something?’

  She hesitated, then it all came flooding out – her anxiety for her sons, Albert’s absences, her belief that he was seeing another woman because he never even kissed her any more, her feeling of complete uselessness. He sat on a chair beside the bed, listening and nodding encouragingly, but actually studying her flushed face and nervous agitation.

  At last, he said, ‘Poor Bathie. You feel you’ve nothing to live for now your children can look after themselves?’

  ‘Is it just nerves then?’ She seemed ashamed.

  ‘Whatever you like to call it, but it can cause real pain. Stop worrying about Charlie and Donnie, they’re both grown men now. It will be difficult, but worrying doesn’t help them, nor you. And don’t think you’re useless, because the rest of your family would be lost without you.’

  ‘I suppose so,’ she murmured, unce
rtainly, ‘but Albert . . .’

  ‘I’m sure Albert loves you as much as ever, he just can’t show it without . . . It’s the way he’s made, Bathie, and I’m sure he would never take another woman, so put that fear right out of your head.’

  ‘But . . .’

  ‘No buts.’ The appeal in her lovely blue eyes snapped his self-control. ‘Do you think I’d say that if I didn’t believe it was true?’ he said passionately. ‘I love you so much, I . . .’ He stopped, dismayed, then went on, gently, ‘I didn’t mean to bring that up again. I’m quite content to worship you from the sidelines as long as I know you’re happy. But if you ever need me, Bathie, let me know. Will you promise?’

  ‘Yes, I promise.’ It was a shy whisper.

  ‘Good. Now, stop worrying and that will be the end of your headaches. That’s my promise to you.’

  Gavin was on his way out of the bedroom when Albert came up the stairs. ‘What’s wrong, Bathie? Hetty said she’d had to get the doctor for you.’

  His anxiety lifted when Bathie said, ‘It’s nothing, Albert. I’ve been having terrible headaches, but it’s just nerves.’

  ‘Thank God it’s nothing serious.’ Looking at the other man, he said, ‘You’re not keeping anything from me, are you?’

  ‘No, Albert, that’s all it is.’

  The doctor made for the door. ‘Remember what you promised, Bathie.’

  ‘Yes, I will, and thank you, Gavin.’

  ‘What did you promise him?’ Albert was frowning.

  ‘Oh, just to stop worrying about everything, especially about Charlie and Donnie.’ It wasn’t the whole truth, but it satisfied her husband.

  Fortunately, her mind was taken off her own troubles when Ellie came to announce that she was four months pregnant.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me as soon as you knew?’ Bathie was rather hurt at her daughter’s apparent thoughtlessness.

  ‘You’d enough on your plate, Mother, with the boys away. I didn’t want you to start worrying about me, too.’

  ‘Worrying about you? Is there something wrong?’