by Carl Leckey
Both Denise and I rush to see the results of her endeavours.
The information she had given us regarding her artistic ability is true. Denise’s portrait is beautiful. I congratulate her and Denise gives her a kiss and thanks her profusely. Pamela blushes mutters something about “I should do better given more time.” She then leaves the room.
I prepare to explain what I propose regarding my trip to France with Gunter. Denise cuts me short and enquires with a sweet smile. “So my gallant husband you are about to ride into the valley of death are you?” I exclaim. “How the?” Denise smiles and points at the window she reveals.”When you are plotting my dear you should find a better place to do it than under an open window.” Phew I am glad she is taking it so well.
“Well since you know of the plot what do you think?” She replies. “It sounds good to me. It looks as if we shall be staying over here for Christmas. To be honest I am worried about a few things you could sort out over there.
For instance has Daisy settled down with Hazel she hasn’t seen her for a long time you know.
I felt she was a little upset when I left her. The there is Billy and Father Peter are they alright?
Then there is Yvette. Lord knows what she’s up to without me keeping an eye on her. Poor Paul I wonder what kind of food he has existed on since I left? Then there is our Louise, how is she managing at the chateau?”
“Whoa! Denise slow down, you have only been left France a few days they are all grownups you know except Daisy. They managed when we went away on our honeymoon quite satisfactorily.”
Denise considers my remarks for a moment then says. “On second thoughts I shall be quite content to remain here with our Son Mathew and my new family in anticipation of your return.”
I inform her. “I shall get you a special present over there.” She replies with a charming smile. “There is no need for another. I couldn’t have wished for a better Christmas present than the one you have already given me, our Mathew.” I take her in my arms and tell her.
“I will miss you my Darling but it will only be for a week.”
She whispers. “And when you get home we shall have yet another honeymoon.”
I reply in what I believe is my most seductive voice.
“Why wait until I get back why not tonight before I leave my Cheri?” Denise answers.
“That sounds a good idea. I shall look forward to tonight with great anticipation. You shall have to warn Jolly Roger that Wow, wow will expect him to perform with the utmost er,” she begins to giggle before finishing. Her girlish giggle is infectious and we both end up laughing uncontrollably.
So it looks as if I am off to France by aeroplane. Subject to the others involved complying. When finally we stop behaving like a couple of love sick kids we leave the studio. Together hand in hand we go into the nursery to break the news to the others.
Mother is seated at a small card table writing something in her diary Unusual for her she doesn’t appear her usual happy self. I call their attention and announce my intention to fly to France.
At first Mother looks uncertain but after I assure her I shall be back for Christmas to spend it in England she looks relieved. Leaving them playing with Mathew I do the rounds making sure all is ok. Denise informs me Luigi has failed to telephone my Mother as he promised and she is very sad. So that was the reason she appeared upset. I hope he does contact her again and it was the unreliable telephone that let him down. I can’t believe he would make a promise and deliberately neglect to keep it. Mother is definitely love sick, evidently it’s not only teenagers that suffer with this heart rending ailment. I consider returning to the nursery and to her. Denise advises against it she explains. “We have talked it over. Your Mother does not want a fuss and is convinced there is a good reason for the lack of telephonic communication.”
This new technology has its snags. Let us see what tomorrow’s reliable post brings.
Even Joe appears excited at the forthcoming trip. I find Gunter in the library and confirm it is all systems go for tomorrow weather permitting. He informs me that he has made arrangements to spend the day on legal business with Jonah who will be picking him up shortly.
The day passes in a kind of dream for me. At the same time as looking forward to my visit to France I am still apprehensive about the flight.
To pass the time away before dinner I look for my mate Toot to have a chat. To my disappointment I am informed by a gardener he has gone to Dover on an urgent message for one of the Ladies and to book rail tickets for Cecil, Joe and Marcel.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The village
I spend the next few hours wandering about the village, having a pint in the pub talking to whoever I happen to meet. Their attitude to me has dramatically changed, evidently my new role as Lord of the manor is now common knowledge amongst the locals. Even the Landlord of the pub seems reluctant to bandy jokes with me like he did on my previous visits when I was a lowly chauffer. In fact he looks decidedly nervous in my presence. He is more than respectful but it’s definitely not the same. When I finished my pint and am about to leave he asks me to come into the best parlour. Intrigued I follow him through the passageway.
As I enter the empty room he hands me a cloth bag obviously holding coins. I am about to ask him what it’s all about when he apologises.
“I reckon you are here for this my Lord? I am sorry my Lord I have only been able to raise half the rent.” I haven’t a clue what he’s on about and ask him to explain. He looks most embarrassed. “Oh! Didn’t you know my Lord? You own the pub I am only the tenant. I had all the rent ready to pay on Michaelmas day as usual when my Missus did a runner with an agricultural rep taking all the money and the gold watch my Dad left me, the bitch. I explained to Lady Angela and Mr Humphries at the Reeve on Michaelmas day and they agreed to let me pay later when I could get all the money together.
She a lovely Lady and really sympathised with me when I explained what had happened. To be honest I didn’t tell her I was glad to see the back of that thieving bitch.”
“Did you tell the police?” I enquire.
“No to tell the truth I was glad to see the back of the lazy cow. The money well, I reckon she is welcome to it as long as she doesn’t come back. It’s the loss of the gold watch that upsets me more than anything. It’s not the value of the watch you understand? It’s the only thing I had to remember my Dad by.” I hand him back the bag of coins.
“Look Bill I didn’t come in here for the rent. As you may gather I didn’t even know we owned the pub. If Lady Angela made an agreement with you let’s stick to it and you pay Mr Humphries when you can ok?”
“By the way what’s all this Michaelmas day business and what the hell is a Reeve?” A look of relief spreads over his face as he explains.
“Thanks my Lord to be truthful this cash was to pay the brewer. I have been out of my mind with worry, and when you turned up I didn’t know what to do. Christmas is my big money earner and I will definitely settle up in the New Year. Oh yes to answer your question about Michaelmas day. It is the traditional day all the tenants pay’s their annual rents.
It’s a big do on the 29th of September. The Manor lay’s on a big feast of stubble goose for all the tenants when we turns up to pay our rents. I really enjoy that day normally but not this year.”
He shrugs his shoulders. I follow up with my second question. “So, Mr Humphries, what did you call him the Reeve?”
He smiles and informs me. “The Reeve I suppose is like a kind of sheriff. He makes sure all the tenants lives up to their agreements, look after the property and pays their rent on time. I believe it goes back to ancient times
I shake his hand and tell him. “I have a lot to learn about the customs around here. I won’t ask you what the difference is between an ordinary goose and a stubble goose. I shall ask Mr Humphries when I explain what we talked about today. I’ll be seeing you Bill, have a nice Christmas.”
“Thanks my Lord let�
�s hope it’s a busy one eh?”
I wander around the village until I arrive at the school.
It is a nice looking one room building set in a lovely location with the usual play ground in front bordered by flower beds. Winter Pansies and Michaelmas daisies are in bright array. I reckon the flower beds will make a lovely picture come spring. It is evident someone cares a great deal about the appearance of the school. I lean on the iron fence comparing it with the horrible establishment I attended infrequently in the town where I was born. The sound of kids voices singing ten green bottles drifts on the air. I notice a lady emerge from the door she comes over to me and introduces herself as the teacher Mrs Audrey Hartley.
“Good day my Lord I am so glad you have come to visit us, please follow me I will introduce you to the children.”
Audrey Hartley. I am startled for a moment until I realise she is Toot’s Wife. Of course I recall he told me she is the teacher at the village school. Although it is unintentional it looks as if my wander through the village is taking on the status of an official visit. I am at loss for words until I remark for something to say. “I was just admiring the school, particularly the flower beds and comparing it with the one I attended in my home town. Somebody evidently cares.”
She replies proudly. “The children and I look after all the gardens with the assistance of a few retired volunteer’s from the village. I have made gardening part of their studies the children learn a great deal from the old men. In turn for assisting us the men are rewarded with enough fruit eggs and vegetables for their own use. We also make sure they have a decent meal when they work here. We have a large vegetable garden at the rear of the school. It allows us to grow our own vegetables and fruit for the school meal programme. With the help of local lady volunteers we do our own cooking on the premises where the children also learn to cook. This ensures every child has a decent hot meal at least once a day but unfortunately not of a weekend or school holidays. The ladies like to be with their own families then. We tried to keep the kitchen open on school holidays but it didn’t work.”
“I know some of the kids from the poorest families depend on the school for a decent meal. Eventually I hope to solve that problem. We also have some animals as well, plus hens, ducks and geese. We run the cattle and sheep with the estate animals we share the profits of the milk and animal sales. The pigs we look after ourselves here at the school. Farmers give us the runts of the litter and we raise them.”
“The school premises are maintained by your estate, Mr Humphries sees to all that kind of thing. We trade our products with the local shops for goods we cannot produce ourselves. That in turn teaches the children about business. Two of the older children handle that part of the scheme and are very good at it.”
I enquire. “How many kids do you have in the school all together?”
“We have at the moment about twenty five. The only problem we have is the one classroom for all ages. We hope to remedy that in the future when funds permit.”
“The school I attended was much bigger than yours and had about thirty five kids in each class but each class had kids of the same age.”
“You will notice we have only eighteen children in school today. We have a system when the children reach the age of eleven they spend part of their school week with members of the different professions and trades located around here. This gets them ready for adult life and gives them the opportunity to sample what could be their life when they leave school.”
“Do the kids like doing that? They are not being exploited are they? You know cheap labour?” She looks most indignant as she reassures me.
“Indeed not, it is purely on a voluntary basis I can assure you it is very popular with the children and the villagers. If there was a breath of the children being exploited I would cease the practice immediately.”
“Two of the children have already left school and are working in their chosen position, if you feel the need go and talk to them. One is training to be a miller the other is to be a seamstress. You see Adam I believe in practical education not just theory. It has been my dream since becoming a teacher to educate in this manner. When the last teacher retired the position in this school gave me the opportunity to try out my ideas. I believe that covers almost everything Adam. If you have any questions please feel free to ask me before we enter the school. You will have the opportunity to question the children on their opinion of my methods.” I congratulate her and remark ruefully. “I wish I had been a pupil at a school such as this, I might have attended more often.”
She smiles. “Jim has told me about your lessons in the army. Also about the man that got you on the road to learning. Sandy I believe is his name.”
“Yes he did I have recently visited him, we thought he was another casualty of the war for a long time but thankfully he is doing well.”
I add. “But didn’t Toot I mean Jim tell you he took on the role as teacher to me and the other uneducated lads when Sandy disappeared on the front line. We owe the two men a great deal?”
With a surprised expression she replies. “No he never mentioned that at all. My Jim, a teacher, wonders never cease.” She responds proudly.
As we walk towards the door I apologise for not visiting her earlier and request her to address me informally by name rather that use the title Emily inflicted on me. She stops walking and replies.
“Jim and I have discussed your dilemma regarding the title. Do you mind if we keep to the agreement you reached with him? On private occasions I shall refer to you by name as Adam but on other occasions I am afraid I agree with Jim. Like it or not, you are the Lord of the manor. The title goes with the responsibilities. Is that agreeable Adam?”
I smile and see the decision has already been made by them. I reply. “Then is it permissible for me to address you as Audrey?”
She replies. “Only on private occasions please. In front of my pupils I would be grateful if you address me as Miss or Teacher when we enter the classroom. We all have our positions in this life to maintain and a title usually ensures respect.” We enter the classroom just as the kids reach the climax of the Song.
One green bottle hanging on the wall.
Audrey explains to teach them about numbers and animals she uses songs whenever possible. She adds with a smile. “It also gives the children the chance to let off steam by singing loudly.” She gives me two more examples.
Old Macdonald has a farm. One man went to mow a meadow.
As the kids enthusiastically sing the songs I look around the classroom. There are about eighteen kids in the class of mixed ages as Audrey indicated. I recognise some of them from the estate. After introducing myself I answer a series of questions posed by the children I am very impressed by the things they ask me. At the end of the session we do a tour of the immaculate gardens containing a duck pond and pig sty.
The children insist on introducing me to the pigs and two of the retired gardeners. I congratulate everyone for their effort and thank them for allowing me to visit their school without an invitation.
As I walk back to the estate I consider the new information I have learned today.
So Cecil is a Reeve on top of his other duties, the man is a miracle. I wonder how much we actually pay him for doing all these duties on our behalf. I shall have to look into things like that and what exactly the estate consists of.
I laugh to myself as a thought strikes me. Imagine my army pals especially Billy if I told them, on top of everything else I also own my own pub and I have met Toots Wife and his kids, unexpectedly I admit but I enjoyed my visit to the school.
On returning to the estate I seek out Cecil in his silver room and inform him of my discovery regarding the pub and the school. We make arrangements to have a meeting after Christmas to discuss the matter with the family solicitor present with all the relevant details. He does reveal however the estate consists of a variety of businesses in the locality including the village post office, the smithy and the mill.
When I mention my visit to the school he informs me we also own that as well. He reveals it was the General who purchased it when the authorities would not fund major repairs and closed it down.
The General had it refurbished added the extra land and reopened it for the estate and local children’s education. Cecil enquires. “What do you think of the Teacher my Lord?”
“I only met her briefly but she appears to be running the school in a fantastic manner I recall the kids didn’t look so happy in the school I attended.”
“Yes my lord since she took over she has introduced all kinds of innovations. We are very lucky to get her my Lord, it’s all thanks to you sending Jim and his Wife here.”
“Does the estate pay her wages Cecil?” He smiles and reveals.
“When she first came here we did but her various enterprises make the school self financing it is even beginning to show a profit. These are used to further fund the school projects she has introduced. What began as a school project is fast becoming a community one. He laughs as he explains. “Mrs Hartley has an uncanny ability to draw others into her schemes.”
“Our teacher has some more ideas but we will discuss them at our next annual meeting at Easter. I hope you will be able to attend my Lord?”
I begin to realise what a huge responsibility the Lord of the manor role consists of. It is only recently I have shed my business worries in France onto my friends and partners. Here I am with even more headaches, fortunately I have Cecil to guide me, what would I do without him?
As I am about to leave he confides Toot is in Dover purchasing tickets and reserving seats on the train for himself and his companions for the trip up north tomorrow. It looks like everything happens tomorrow. Gunter and I also leave in his flying contraption tomorrow, weather permitting. I have actually left the room when a thought strikes me I pop back in and ask
“By the way Cecil what is a Stubble Goose?” He smiles and answers. “I see Bill has been revealing our customs. We all really enjoy Michaelmas day of course it is the day when the tenants pay their annual rent to the estate. But it is also a great social occasion. We get to meet all of the tenants their wives and families informally. The General even hired a travelling fair on the estate for the kids to enjoy of course that included all the village kids regardless if they where children of the tenants. A great deal of home brewed cider is also consumed by their parents on that day. To answer your question, the actual goose feast is an old custom revived by the General The stubble goose is just an ordinary goose but after the harvest they are turned loose on the field to feed and fatten up on the fallen cereal.”
