The Girl from Old Nichol

by Betty Annand

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  When Gladys arrived home, Andrew had put Dolly to bed and was sitting in the parlour reading. As soon as he saw her, he knew Millie’s condition had worsened. He put his arms around her, and the comfort of his embrace was all it took for Gladys to begin crying again. When she finally stopped, he asked about Millie, and although she longed to confess, she just shook her head and didn’t object when he suggested she lie down on the divan while he made tea.

  They drank their tea in silence until Gladys said, “I don’t think she’s going to make it through the night, Andrew.” He always appreciated it when Gladys used his first name, but if she could read his thoughts, she would have never stopped calling him Dad.

  Unwilling to leave her alone, Andrew offered to stay the night, but she refused and as soon as he left, she went upstairs and crawled into bed, hoping sleep would erase the horror of what she had done. She wasn’t that fortunate. For hours she lay looking up at the ceiling and massaging her hands that were aching as though they were still gripping Millie’s pillow. She knew she’d done what Millie wanted, and she would have wanted Millie to do the same for her if their roles had been reversed, but the ugly word, “murderer” kept coming over and over into her mind. Suddenly, she was very frightened.

  If any of the infirmary staff had gone in to see Millie after she left, they might have already discovered she was dead. If that happened, Gladys was certain they would know she was to blame since she was the last one to see her. As such thoughts ran through her mind, she began to realize how foolish her act of compassion had been. It could result in her spending the rest of her life in a prison, instead of in luxury as the mistress of Oaken Arms. She wasn’t even sure that Dolly would be spared. The authorities were sure to investigate her past and when Andrew found out who she really was, he might not want to look after his granddaughter, regardless of their fondness for each other.

  She thought about getting Dolly out of bed and running away, but there was nowhere they could to go. She would just have to wait until morning, then return to the infirmary as though nothing had happened. Having made that decision, she finally dropped off into a fitful sleep.

  __________

  Gladys woke up early, and as soon as she had given Dolly her breakfast, she took her to the Grimsbys’ before going directly to the infirmary. On her arrival, she thought it odd that the main door was open, and when she entered the building and found there was no one about, she was even more apprehensive. Trying to appear calm, she went directly to Millie’s bedside. It was a relief to find her friend exactly as she left her. She appeared so peaceful that Gladys felt a deep sense of gratification. She smiled and gently reached out to touch Millie’s cheek. Her hand had barely made contact when suddenly Millie’s hand shot up and grabbed hold of Gladys’s wrist in an iron grip, then she sat up, opened her eyes, and with a diabolical look, spat blood from her toothless mouth and cried, “Murderer!”

  Gladys couldn’t stop screaming until she realized that the hand gripping her wrist was Dolly’s and not Millie’s. “Mama, Mama, what’s the matter?”

  Gladys was shaking, but more with relief than fear. “It’s alright, my darling, Mama just had a bad dream.”

  “I’m sorry, Mama. Maybe I should come to bed with you.”

  “I think that’s a splendid idea.”

  Cuddling up to Dolly’s warm, little body proved to be the comfort Gladys needed, and she slept through the rest of the night.

  She wasn’t feeling very brave the next morning and dreaded going to the infirmary, but she had no alternative. She was ready to leave as soon as Dolly finished her breakfast. They were putting on their coats when they heard knocking at the door. Certain it was the police, Gladys’s heart began to pound and her hand shook when she opened the door. When she saw it was only Andrew, her knees buckled. Andrew caught her before she hit the floor and he helped her into the parlour then sat her down on a chair.

  “You must have guessed what I’ve come to tell you,” Andrew said. “Millie’s doctor sent me a message this morning asking me to drop by the infirmary where he told me that our dear Millie passed away peacefully sometime during the night.”

  Gladys, pretending the news came as a shock, uttered a moan. They had both forgotten Dolly until she pulled on Gladys’s sleeve and asked, “What does ‘passed away’ mean, Mama?”

  “It means your Aunt Millie has died, dear,” Gladys answered. Dolly began to cry, so Andrew sat down, took her on his knee and did his best to comfort her.

  “We shall all miss her, my little turtle dove, but we shall just have to try our best to be happy for her as well. You see, Dolly, Auntie was very, very sick and in a great deal of pain, but now she is at peace and her suffering is over.”

  His words helped Gladys as much, or more, than they did Dolly.

  “Is she in heaven with her little boy, Michael, and my daddy?” Dolly asked.

  “Yes, I’m sure she is,” Andrew answered, for Dolly’s benefit.

  “Couldn’t the doctor make her all better?”

  “I am afraid not, sweetheart.”

  “Gamby, what if you get sick? Will you die too?”

  “Well, that would depend on the seriousness of my illness. But death is inevitable, and no one can live forever.”

  “Why?”

  “Well you see, every living thing has a time to live and a time to die. It was Millie’s time to die, and if she could talk to you right now, I am certain she would tell you that she wanted to go. Now you, my dear, have many, many more years ahead of you so let us put an end to all this talk of death and just think about the good times we shared with your Auntie Millie, shall we?”

  “I shall try, Gamby,” Dolly replied, sticking out her chin bravely, and wiping the tears away on her sleeve.

  Since the weather was favourable, Andrew suggested they take a ride out to Oaken Arms, hoping to cheer them up, and Gladys offered to make a few sandwiches to take with them. She was relieved when Andrew stayed in the living room with Dolly and didn’t see how her hands shook when she sliced the bread. A feeling of weakness and nausea had come over her, and she prayed she could get through the day without breaking down.

  On their ride to Oaken Arms, the fresh air helped steady her nerves, and she even joined Andrew and Dolly in singing a happy song. After they had eaten their sandwiches, Dolly ran off to look for grasshoppers. Andrew could tell that his daughter-in-law was taking her friend’s death very hard, so he reached out and took her hands in his. “Gladys, you mustn’t feel guilty; you could not have been kinder to Millie. The nurse told me how you managed to get her to eat when no one else could. She also said—”

  Gladys couldn’t bear to hear any more and she interrupted him, “Please, Andrew, I know you are only trying to help, but let’s not talk about it anymore today. I think I shall call Dolly and we will walk down to the creek to see if we can spot any trout. Do you want to come with us, or do we have time?”

  “Yes, that is a jolly good idea, but I must give you this envelope Millie left in my care.”

  Gladys took the envelope but hesitated before opening it. She didn’t really want to share its contents with anyone but couldn’t think of an excuse to avoid it. She needn’t have worried. The only thing in the envelope was Millie’s will. Gladys had hoped that her friend had written a letter expressing how much their friendship had meant to her, or any other personal sentiment that could be kept as a memento to help ease her conscience. However, the only thing it contained in Millie’s own handwriting was her signature at the bottom of the will.

  She had Andrew read it aloud, and although she wasn’t surprised to find that Millie had left everything to her, hearing it made her realize just how much the dressmaker loved her. “I think that if there is any money left over after I settle Millie’s accounts; I should like to use it to see that the she is buried alongside her son. Do you think that w
ould be possible?”

  “I cannot see why not. Where is he buried?”

  “In London, but I have no idea which cemetery.”

  Andrew suggested that they forego their stroll and return to town so as to go through Millie’s papers and look for a burial receipt. If Gladys hadn’t interrupted him when he was telling her what the nurse had to say about Millie’s demise, she would have learned that she wasn’t responsible for the seamstress’s death after all, although her actions may have hurried it along. Gladys was so sure that Millie was dead before she left her, that she had neglected to feel for a pulse. The nurse told Andrew that she was making her rounds about two in the morning and found Millie’s breathing to be very weak. She was going to call the doctor, but knowing there was nothing he could do, she held one of Millie’s hands to comfort her. She added that Millie surprised her by giving her hand a slight squeeze, then without opening her eyes, her mouth formed a little smile and she passed away peacefully. Unfortunately, Andrew never mentioned it again, and Gladys never knew the full truth.

  __________

  They found what they were looking for in one of Millie’s two trunks. This particular trunk was quite unique in that it was made entirely of leather, and all four sides and the lid were beautifully hand-tooled in a floral design. Dolly had always loved to smell the trunk and run her hands over its smooth surface whenever she visited her Auntie Millie. She referred to it as “my bootiful, smelly trunk,” and until she was five, she was disappointed every time she smelled real flowers and they didn’t smell like leather. Millie was delighted that someone revered the trunk as much as she did, because it had been a gift from her one and only lover. Therefore, she decided to leave it to Dolly in her will. She even attached a note inside the lid saying, “Property of Dolly Pickwick by order of Millie McIver.”

  Andrew and Gladys were astonished to discover how many papers, mementos, and valuables that Millie had stored inside such a limited space. Many of the articles were only of value to the owner, such as ticket stubs and dried flowers. However, among her memorabilia was a collection of expensive lace shawls and gloves, small, delicate ornaments she must have thought too fine to display in such a humble dwelling, and pieces of exquisite jewellery in velvet-lined cases. At the bottom of one of the trunks, they found a portrait of a distinguished looking gentleman along with newspaper clippings concerning him. “Now why in heavens would Millie save this picture and these articles about Lord Lackery?” Andrew remarked.

  “I have no idea,” Gladys lied, then quickly gathered them up and threw them in the trash can. There were also a good number of unpaid bills that Andrew said would have to be seen to. Finally, they found a receipt from an undertaker with reference to the burial of Millie’s son, Michael McIver, in the High Gate Cemetery in London.

  Dolly couldn’t hide her excitement when Andrew suggested that the three of them accompany Millie’s coffin to London on the train. When Lord Cedric heard of their plans, he generously offered the use of his flat, since he only occupied it when he attended the House of Lords. The trip took most of a day and although they were thrilled with the train ride, they were also very tired when they arrived. After Andrew confirmed that the undertaker he’d previously notified had picked up Millie’s coffin, they went to dinner near Lord Cedric’s flat and then retired.

  __________

  They were at the cemetery early next morning to meet the minister that Andrew had contacted. It had taken quite a bit of persuasion and a great deal more money than was left after Millie’s estate had been settled to have her buried in the same grave site as her son and her parents, but Andrew paid it without telling Gladys. The minister gave a short, but heartening sermon, and when he was finished, Gladys sang, “Oh, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” the only hymn Millie liked. The funeral affected both Dolly and Gladys deeply, in a comforting way. They both could imagine how happy Millie would be to be with her beloved son again, which made Dolly happy and somewhat eased Gladys’s conscience.

  Ironically, Millie’s death brought about the most wonderful adventure Gladys and Dolly could ever have imagined. They buried Millie on the 20th of May 1851, and the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park had been officially opened by the Queen herself on the 1st of May, so Andrew insisted they stay for a few more days and see the exhibits. They were most fortunate in having Lord Sorenson’s flat because London was swarming with tourists who had come from far and wide to see the very first World Exhibition. The flat was quite roomy with two good sized apartments on the first floor and one on the second, where the caretaker and his wife, the housekeeper, resided.

  The next morning, they left the flat as soon as they finished a tasty breakfast the housekeeper was kind enough to prepare. Luckily, they were able to hail a cab without waiting too long, and after a pleasant ride they came in sight of the Crystal Palace. Travelling in an open cab they were awestruck with the splendour of the building—Andrew as much as Gladys and Dolly. “It’s unbelievable,” he exclaimed. “I was here about a year ago, and there was nothing but park.” The driver, hoping for a generous tip, pulled over to the curb and began his well-rehearsed speech concerning the Palace and the exhibits within.

  “It were Prince Albert, who made it happen, yer lordship,” he said with pride. “An’ the reason you didn’t see it afore, was that it only took nine months to build. There’s more than a million feet o’ glass in that building, and inside there’s over thirteen thousand exhibits from around the world. Things the ladies’ll like too!” he added for Gladys and Dolly’s benefits. “You won’t half enjoy it. There’s so much to see, you’ll want to come back again and again.” Andrew stopped him from continuing by suggesting they would like to learn about it inside the building and not out on the street.

  Upon entry, they were given a brochure with all the information needed to find their way about, but the doorman, surmising they were well-off by their attire, signalled for one of the official guides to come and assist them. The guide, a small statured, pleasant-faced man dressed immaculately in a scarlet uniform, came running to offer his services, a convenience given only to the wealthy. They soon found out that he had been well trained because he couldn’t have been more obliging, even going so far as to secure a comfortable little push cart so Dolly could ride when she wearied.

  Joseph Paxton, the man who designed the Crystal Palace, was first and foremost, a gardener. This was easy to believe since the interior of the building was enhanced with full grown trees, colourful gardens, fountains and cascades, which provided shade and pleasing scents, especially on the days when the sun beat down on the glass roof. The cab driver hadn’t exaggerated when he told them how many exhibits there were to see. There were 6,861 from England alone, 520 from fifteen of the British colonies and the remaining 6,556 came from other countries. The building was made of cast iron and glass and was 1,851 feet long with a height of 108 feet and had 999,000 feet of exhibition space displaying the latest technology developed during the Industrial Revolution.

  Railway engines and mill machinery were among the large machines that were displayed in actual motion, all powered by two large steam boilers. These and the exhibit showing the latest technology in telegraphy were among Andrew’s favourites, but with Oaken Arms in mind, Gladys was far more interested in the displays of modern furniture and arts and crafts, especially those from Italy. Then, when they came to the American Exhibits, she couldn’t help but exclaim out loud, “Oh, look,” causing heads to turn in her direction.

  Andrew laughed as her face turned red. “Now what have you found, my dear?” he asked.

  “Look at this machine, Andrew. It is simply unbelievable! All you have to do is sit there and turn the handle around with your hand and the machine does the sewing. Can you just imagine how Millie would have loved a machine like this?”

  The man in charge of the exhibit stopped sewing, and explained that it was the first successful, manufactured sew
ing machine. “Would you like to try it?” he asked and held out a small piece of material for Gladys to use. It took a bit of practice before she learned to feed the cloth in while turning the wheel, but she soon managed to sew the material into a pocket-like pouch.

  This brought on a loud applause from the rest of the spectators. “That was terrific! Thanks, lovely lady,” the man said with a wink and a grin. Then he added, “Ya know, you’d make a great demonstrator.”

  Gladys didn’t take offense over his familiarity. In fact, she liked the casual way he spoke, and smiling, she replied, “Why, thank you, sir, your machine is simply amazing.”

  Then the man noticed that Gladys’s companion was obviously annoyed with his flirtatious manner and, being a seasoned salesman quickly assessed his prospects, and turned his attention to Andrew. Andrew was so interested in the mechanics of the contraption he soon forgot his grievances and told Gladys and Dolly to carry on; he would catch up to them in a minute or two. Gladys would have refused to leave without him, but Dolly was anxious to see more and tugged at her sleeve.

  Dolly was mesmerized with the taxidermy exhibits. There were lions and tigers from Africa, shaggy haired bison from America, and many kinds of animals she didn’t know existed, all looking so alive that at first, she was a little frightened of them. Next to the shaggy haired bison stood a tepee made from animal skins, and sitting on a bison pelt outside the tepee was a beautiful Indian princess wearing a colourful beaded and fringed buckskin tunic and trousers.