Time Shall Reap

by Doris Davidson

  But his face had darkened. ‘What right has your Janet to arrange a job for my daughter?’ he demanded. ‘Elspeth can just write and tell her she’s not taking it, for she’s far better here where I can see she comes to no harm.’

  ‘Janet’ll look after her,’ Lizzie murmured.

  ‘Janet can’t even look after herself without having you running at her tail every time she snaps her fingers.’

  ‘She can’t help being delicate ...’

  ‘There’s nothing delicate about Janet! If Harry Bain had put his foot down from the start and made her be a proper wife instead o’ a self-styled invalid, she’d have been a better woman the day.’

  ‘She was never very strong,’ Lizzie ventured, ‘and if Harry doesna mind, it’s nothing to do wi’ us.’

  ‘It is when she starts poking her nose into our lives,’ Geordie thundered.

  Beginning to fear that she was fighting a lost cause, Lizzie made one last stand. ‘She was only doing it for Elspeth’s sake. It’s a grand job, by all accounts, and a lot more money, so you surely wouldna begrudge the lassie a chance to better herself? She’ll never get any further wi’ Grace Fraser, but think on the opportunities she’ll have in the town. This big house would just be a start, and she could maybe end up working for the nobility.’

  ‘And you think the nobility’s better than us, do you? Some o’ them’s that perverted, they think about nothing but whoring wi’ their servants and throwing them out on the streets if they fall wi’ a bairn.’

  ‘They’re not all like that,’ Lizzie began, then jumped as Geordie thumped his fist on the table. ‘I’ve said no, woman!’ he roared. ‘Now, am I to get my supper?’

  Giving up for the moment, but determined that the matter was not over yet, Lizzie rose to serve him the potted head and vegetables. He was an obstinate, cantankerous devil, but she could be just as obstinate when she liked, as he would find out when he had finished eating. She had never gone against him before, but there was always a first time.

  By the time his pudding plate was empty, he seemed to have cooled down, but she waited until she had cleared up and he had read his passage from the bible before she sat down and said, as scornfully as she could with her insides quaking, ‘I aye thought a father was supposed to love his children.’

  His head jerked up. ‘And who says I don’t?’

  ‘It doesn’t look like it when you’re stopping her taking a job she wants.’

  His eyes widened. ‘Elspeth wants the job?’

  ‘She wants to get away from Auchlonie.’ Lizzie could see that she had made him think. ‘She wants to get away from everything that reminds her on John Forrest.’

  ‘Och, John Forrest.’ Geordie spat in the fire to show his contempt.

  ‘She did love him, Geordie, though she didna ken him long. She’s heart-broken, and you surely don’t want to cause her any more misery?’

  ‘No,’ he said, slowly, ‘I wouldna want to do that.’

  ‘Well then.’ Lizzie’s body relaxed a little, her heart slowed down.

  Geordie didn’t speak for a few minutes, obviously mulling over what she had said, then he muttered, his voice flat, ‘I suppose I’ll have to let her go. She likely will get over young Forrest quicker in the town, but I’m going to miss her, for she’s never been away before. Still, it’s time she saw a bit o’ life, and Aberdeen’s not the other side o’ the world, so she’ll be able to come home on her days off.’

  No, Lizzie thought, fiercely, she’ll never be able to come home again, and Geordie wouldn’t want to see her if he knew the whole story.

  On Friday night, the second after the delivery of the telegram, Meg Forrest slept soundly the whole night through, and rose on Saturday morning feeling much better. She had exhausted her tears and, although she would never completely get over the loss of her son, she could now accept it.

  In the middle of the forenoon, the clattering of horses’ hooves in the yard made her wonder who could be calling, and she was quite surprised to see the carrier at the door when she answered the loud knock. She was expecting no parcels.

  ‘I’ve a grandfather clock here for you, Mistress Forrest.’ ‘Oh!’ She tried to hide her agitation.

  ‘Oh, aye.’ Eck Ewen eyed her inquisitively. ‘I thought you’d one already, but maybe I was mistaken.’

  ‘No, you werena mistaken.’ Meg left it at that.

  Eck, recognizing the finality of her tone, asked no further. ‘It come up from Perth on the train this morning, so I loaded it on and came right here. Is Blairton about, or some o’ your men to give me a hand?’

  ‘They’re ploughing behind the byre.’ Meg went inside, reproaching herself for having forgotten about the clock, but when the men guided it carefully through the door, she instructed them to put it in the parlour, the only place there was room for it, and after the men left, she took a good look at it. It was much more impressive than the one in the farmhouse, which had been here before she came as a bride, and it struck her, with a plummeting of her heart, that it would never be used as a wedding gift from John to his bride now.

  However, it had been meant for Elspeth Gray, so she would have to be told about it when she accepted the invitation to come to Blairton. Where would she keep it, though? There was less room in the cottar house than there was here.

  Elspeth went back to work on the day after she received Mrs Forrest’s letter – excusing her absence by pleading an upset stomach and saying that she would be leaving at the end of next week because she had found a better job in Aberdeen.

  ‘That’s very sudden, but if it’s to benefit you, I’ll not stand in your way.’ Grace Fraser had grown quite fond of the girl during the three years she had employed her, and was sorry to be losing her. To cover her sentimentality, she said, ‘Did you hear young John Forrest had been killed? They say his mother’s taking it very badly.’ She was appalled to see the girl’s face blanching – she hadn’t connected Elspeth’s leaving with the boy’s death until now.

  Elspeth took a deep breath. ‘Aye, I did hear. Poor woman.’ She wished that she could accept the ‘poor woman’s’ invitation and go to Blairton to tell her about the coming child, but it was better not to. Mrs Forrest would only think the worst of her and be disgusted.

  The sad news having gone round, Nettie and Kirsty felt awkward with Elspeth. When Mrs Taylor told them about John the day before, Kirsty had said, ‘It’s like it was a story,’ and Nettie had snapped, ‘It’s a lot sadder, any road.’

  Elspeth was ready with her answer when Nettie asked what kind of job she’d got. ‘It’s a sewing maid in a big house in the town that my Aunt Janet got for me. I’m working a week’s notice, and I’ll be leaving here next Saturday.’

  This didn’t satisfy Nettie, so she asked bluntly ‘Is it because John Forrest was killed you’re going away?’

  ‘Aye, that’s it.’ Elspeth grasped the excuse eagerly; it would save them suspecting the real reason for her leaving.

  Next morning, a letter came from Janet, agreeing to take Elspeth, but saying it was a disgrace that a woman in poor health had to bear the brunt of the girl’s sins. Having known what her sister’s reaction would be, Lizzie burned the letter without showing it to her daughter.

  All the following week, Elspeth marvelled that she could behave so normally after the terrible calamity which had befallen her. It would have been bad enough to be expecting a bairn if John had still been alive, even if he hadn’t come home in time to wed her and avert a scandal; not to have his support at all would be unbearable, but she was going to have to bear it, whatever happened.

  On Saturday night, Nettie and Kirsty presented Elspeth with a small, cheap brooch, almost breaking down the reserve she had built up, and Grace Fraser added to her discomposure by saying, as she was going out, ‘Just a minute, Elspeth. I wish you the best of luck in the future, and please take this in case things don’t work out for you.’ She held out an envelope and closed the door before the overcome girl had time to thank her
.

  The pound note which Elspeth found when she opened it was the final straw, and she gave way to her tears. They were all so kind, it made her half regret allowing, encouraging, John Forrest to make love to her that night by the fire, and that day in Blairton farmhouse, but she wanted to have his child, the proof of his love, and was prepared to do anything in order to keep it.

  Later that evening, Lizzie helped her to pack a Gladstone bag, then said, in some embarrassment, ‘Here, this’ll maybe help you a bit. I don’t suppose Janet’ll give you any money, seeing she’ll have to keep you.’ She pressed two sovereigns into her daughter’s hand. ‘No arguments now – you’ll likely need them.’

  Elspeth spent her last night in Auchlonie thinking sadly of John Forrest, whom she would never see again, and worrying about what was to become of her in the big city.

  Chapter Nine

  Geordie Gray lifted Elspeth’s bag. ‘I’ll walk wi’ you to the station, and you’d best take a tram when you get to the town, for it’s a fair bit to be humping this.’

  Elspeth gripped her mother’s hand. They had no idea when they would ever see each other again, but they couldn’t let their emotion overcome them in front of the man, who was quite ignorant of the poignancy of the parting.

  Father and daughter walked to the village in silence, meeting no one on this quiet Sunday afternoon, and, as they passed the road to Blairton, Elspeth regretted not having gone to see Mrs Forrest. Maybe she wouldn’t have condemned, maybe she would have been glad to have a grandchild as a remembrance of John ... but it was too late now. When they reached the little station, Geordie cleared his throat of a sudden obstruction. ‘Mind and do what your Auntie Janet tells you, for she can be a real besom when she likes.’

  ‘I’ll mind, Father.’ Her voice was a trifle unsteady. He wouldn’t be so considerate if he knew that she was three months gone with child.

  When the train came, she took the bag from him and entered a carriage, her last glimpse of him showing him gazing rather forlornly after the train as it steamed away from the little platform. Sighing heavily, she put her bag up on the rack and sat down facing the only other occupant. She felt all choked up, knowing that she could never return to Auchlonie, for she couldn’t leave her bairn with Janet, not even for a day, and her father must never know about it.

  ‘It’s not quite so cold the day.’ The woman facing the engine gave her a friendly smile. ‘I’ve been to Portkillie to see my sister, an’ it’s aye cold up there on the coast. Was that your father seeing you off?’

  Reluctant to start a conversation, Elspeth nodded, but the woman was not be thwarted of a chat. ‘You’ll be going to Aberdeen to work? There’s no need for you to look so upset, for you’ll get used to the town, and if you’ve got good lodgings you’ll soon be laughing at yourself for worrying.’

  She was a pleasant, rather plump woman, a few years younger than Lizzie, Elspeth thought, taking stock of her. Her bright bird’s eyes were kind and sympathetic, her plain navy coat and hat gave her a stamp of respectability, and it should be safe to tell her the story that Lizzie had concocted. ‘My mother’s sister found me a place in Aberdeen, and I’m to be biding wi’ her.’

  ‘Oh, that’s good ... what’s your name, lassie? I aye think it’s more friendly if you ken folks’ names.’

  ‘It’s Elspeth. Elspeth Gray.’

  ‘Well, Elspeth, I’m Helen Watson. I was saying I’d been to see my sister, her man’s the auctioneer at Portkillie and he’d to be away for a while to a big sale in Glasgow, so she asked me up there for company.’

  ‘That had been a fine change for you.’ Elspeth couldn’t help warming to her travelling companion.

  ‘I fair enjoyed myself. We went to Elgin one day to the shops, then had a while in Cooper Park, and yesterday, we’d a walk along the seafront at Portkillie. I love the sea and the boats, being born in Peterhead, but it’s funny, I never think o’ going to the harbour or the beach in Aberdeen. What kind o’ work have you got?’

  Elspeth’s mind had been wandering, worrying about living with her aunt, but the sudden question broke into her thoughts. ‘Oh ... I’m to be a sewing-maid. I worked for the dressmaker in Auchlonie, you see.’

  Fortunately, the woman asked no more questions, and when the train drew into the terminus, she gathered up her belongings while Elspeth took her bag from the rack. On the platform, Mrs Watson said, ‘Have you far to go to your auntie’s?’

  ‘She bides in Rosemount Viaduct, and I’ve to take a tram.’

  ‘I’ll walk you up to Union Street, then, and show you where to get it.’ Becoming aware of the girl’s increasing distress, she said, ‘Is something wrong? I ken a troubled face when I see it. Look, what about me buying you a cup o’ tea and you can tell your Auntie Helen all about it?’

  It was meant to cheer the girl, but it broke down the fragile barrier, and when they sat down in the small cafe, Elspeth sobbed out her story. Mrs Watson raised her eyebrows once or twice although she said nothing, but when the girl came to a hiccupping end, she said, ‘And you think the whole world’s against you? You’re not the first to get landed in the family way, though it’s a great shame your lad was killed, but I’m sure your auntie’ll look after you.’

  ‘You don’t know Janet,’ Elspeth muttered, faintly, then, ashamed of confiding in a complete stranger, she added, ‘No, I’m being stupid. I suppose I’ll be fine there.’

  Eyeing her earnestly, Mrs Watson said, ‘Well, Elspeth, if you’re not wanting to go, I’d be happy to look after you. We’ve a spare room since our Donald went away to the war.’

  ‘Thank you very much, but I’d better go to my auntie’s.’

  ‘I see you’ve been brought up to do what your mother tells you, but sometimes a mother doesna really see what’s best for her bairn, so if your auntie makes things bad for you, just you come to me. I bide on the middle floor of the middle house in Quarry Street. Will you mind that?’

  Elspeth nodded bleakly and the woman said, briskly, ‘Come on, then, and I’ll see you to your tram.’

  After going up a long flight of steps, they emerged breathlessly on Union Street, where green and cream tram-cars were gliding along the rails, their metal antennae extending skywards to connect with the overhead electric cables. Coming to a red tramway stop, Mrs Watson announced, ‘We’ll wait here.’

  In a few minutes, she said, ‘Ah, here’s the number five and my number four’s just behind it. Cheerio, now, lass, and mind what I tell’t you.’

  ‘Yes. Thank you. The middle floor of the middle house in Quarry Street,’ Elspeth said, as she boarded the vehicle.

  Mrs Watson was a very nice woman, she reflected, as she sat down, and it was good to know that she had a refuge if things got too bad for her, but ... she would have to put up with her auntie.

  When Janet Bain opened the door in answer to Elspeth’s timid knock, her face was even more forbidding than the girl remembered. ‘So you’ve come? A fine thing this, when a decent woman has to save her sister’s face, or more like it, her niece’s face. If it was up to me, you’d have stewed in your own juice, for why should I take on a girl that’s gone against God’s commandments?’

  Luckily for Elspeth, her uncle appeared behind his wife. ‘Come in, Elspeth,’ he said, kindly, taking her bag. ‘You’ll be tired after your journey.’

  ‘A wee bit,’ she admitted.

  ‘Not too tired to make up your bed, I hope,’ Janet sniffed, as they went inside. ‘My back’s been bothering me for days, and I wasn’t able to do it for you.’

  ‘Oh, it’s all right, I’ll manage to do it myself.’ Elspeth knew that things were not going to be all right. It was not going to be easy to live with this woman, whose antagonism screamed from every pore of her long, thin face.

  ‘I’ll take you through to your room,’ Harry remarked, ‘and I’ll give you a hand to make up your bed the time Janet’s dishing up the supper.’ Ignoring his wife’s gasp of indignation at being made to do something herself, h
e led the way into a room off the tiny lobby. It was only slightly larger than Elspeth’s bedroom at home, but the long window let in far more light than the skylight she was used to.

  As her uncle helped her with the sheets and blankets, she observed, ‘I think you’re accustomed to making beds.’

  ‘I’m accustomed to doing most jobs in this house,’ he smiled. ‘Not that there’s anything really wrong with Janet, but it makes my life easier if I do things and say nothing. You’ll have gathered she didn’t want you here, and I’d a hard job making her agree, so you’d be best to keep your tongue between your teeth, and all.’

  Knowing that in her uncle she had a staunch ally, Elspeth just nodded, and he went on, ‘Maybe it would be a good thing if you took a wee job for as long as you’re fit, so you wouldn’t have to be in the house with her all day, for she’d have you working harder than any mistress.’

  ‘Will she not be angry if I take a job?’

  ‘She was going on about how much it would take to feed you, so you could tell her you wanted to pay for your keep. That might make her happier about things.’

  ‘Aye, that’s right.’ Elspeth felt a little happier herself. She had not thought about taking a job, but it would be good to have a little money of her own.

  ‘You could go to Collie’s in the morning. They keep a register of domestic employment ...’ He looked at her anxiously. ‘You wouldn’t object to being a servant, would you? It’s the easiest way to get a job.’

  ‘I wouldn’t object, as long as Auntie Janet doesn’t.’

  ‘She’ll not object if you’re giving her money.’ As he fitted his side of the counterpane, he said, looking very serious, ‘I’m sorry you’re in trouble, Elspeth, and I maybe won’t always be able to smooth things between her and you, but remember, I’ll always be on your side, no matter what it looks like.’