A Wise Child Read online

  ‘Janey says his hair’ll rub off,’ Nellie said. ‘Do you think his face is like Sam’s?’

  The boy studied the tiny wrinkled red face. ‘It’s hard to tell. I think he might be like you when he smooths out, like,’ he said.

  ‘You’d better go before she wakes up,’ Nellie whispered.

  Bob was turning to go when they heard unsteady footsteps approaching the house and the next moment Sam stumbled up the narrow stairs, followed by Janey.

  He was a tall broad-shouldered man who seemed to fill the tiny room as he stood swaying beside the bed.

  ‘It’s a boy, Sam,’ Bobby said excitedly but Janey pushed the boy towards the door. Nellie lifted out the baby for her husband to see but he seemed to have difficulty in focusing. His face was red and his dark hair tousled as he stood like a bull in a bullring facing his tormentors, turning his head from side to side.

  ‘Soft Sam, Soft Sam, that’s what they called me, Soft Sam.’

  Janey was grimacing at Nellie and shaking her head, then she pulled at Sam’s arm. ‘You don’t want to take no notice to them lot,’ she said.

  Sam pulled his arm away and shouted, ‘Gerrout, gerrout.’

  The old woman scuttled away and Sam rubbed his hand over his face, blinking as he tried to focus his eyes and saying, ‘Ellie, Ellie,’ in a bewildered voice. Nellie lay looking at him, wide eyed, too shocked by his words to speak, but Bobby had come back into the room.

  Nellie was still holding the baby on top of the bedclothes but Bobby put him back beneath them and tucked the bedclothes round Nellie.

  ‘You’ve got to keep warm, Nell,’ he said, then turning to Sam he said with authority, ‘Come on, Sam, you’re dossing with me tonight.’

  Sam allowed himself to be led into the other bedroom and within minutes Bobby came and said that he was asleep. Nellie still felt too stunned to speak. Why had the men in the Volley taunted Sam about the baby? Those sort of men never counted months or bothered with women’s gossip, and anyway no one knew why she had come home from her last place.

  Charlie West, she thought suddenly, he might talk like that but who had put the idea in his head? Again she thought of Janey. There was a side door to Janey’s room which gave on to a back entry, used by Janey’s moneylending clients. Charlie West, a bachelor now working ashore, was very thick with Janey and often slipped in and out of the door.

  But why would Janey say anything about the situation to Charlie West? She had seemed to be trying to convince Sam that the baby was his. Confused and troubled though Nellie felt by all this, of one thing she was certain. From the moment that the nurse had placed the baby in her arms she had been sure that he was Sam’s child, even though she could find no physical proof to show Janey.

  Janey. I don’t understand her and I’m afraid of her, she thought, but then so were most people. Not just because she was a moneylender but because she often boasted that she could cause trouble for people if she ‘opened her mouth’.

  And now I’m one of them with a secret for her to hold over me but I’m not going to let it happen, Nellie vowed. Her anger because Sam had been hurt gave her courage and she decided that she would tell Sam about Leadbetter as soon as she saw him.

  I’ve always been a coward, she thought. Afraid of Ma, of Janey, of the school board man and the other children in the street but I’ve never been afraid of Sam. I’ve always felt safe with him. Even when he was a tough young boy, living rough and able to hold his own with street Arabs, he had been kind and gentle with her and saved her from being hurt.

  The short time she had been able to spend with him as a man had proved to her that he had not changed and that this was the true Sam. And now through me Sam’s the one to be hurt, she thought, but if he knows about Leadbetter and the baby coming early he’ll have an answer if anyone skits him. The nurse will back me up about the baby too. I’ll ask her tomorrow, and without fail I’ll tell Sam about Leadbetter too so neither of us will have to worry about Janey or anyone else. Comforted by her decision she snuggled down with the baby and fell asleep.

  Weak cries from the baby woke her some hours later. He seemed hungry and when she put him to her breast he tugged eagerly at her nipple. Nellie stiffened and curled her toes in pain, until the baby sucked in a steady rhythm, but she was relieved to see such strength in the fragile little body.

  She slept again and when she woke Janey had come upstairs with a bowl of gruel.

  ‘What about the quare feller last night, then,’ she cackled. ‘Wonder what he got said to him?’ Nellie said nothing and Janey went on, ‘He had a proper skinful. Fell out of the bed, Bobby said, and finished the night on the floor.’

  Nellie still said nothing, only looked at her, and the old woman turned away.

  ‘I’ll send Bobby up with tea,’ she muttered. ‘I’ve gotta get out with me fish.’

  She never even looked at the baby or asked how he was, Nellie thought, but when Bobby came up with the tea he asked if he could hold the baby.

  ‘I helped to save him, didn’t I?’ he said proudly. ‘Bringing the hot water up.’

  ‘Yes. Is Sam awake?’ Nellie asked anxiously. ‘Janey said he was on the floor last night.’

  ‘Yes, fell outa bed, but he’s all right now. He’s just put his head under the tap.’

  Before he could say any more a loud knocking announced the arrival of the midwife.

  ‘You look better this morning,’ she said immediately. ‘How has he been?’

  Nellie eagerly told her of the strength the baby had shown when sucking and the nurse nodded approvingly.

  ‘He’ll do,’ she said. ‘He’s perfectly formed for all he’s so small. About five pounds, I’d say, but I’ve known smaller than him survive. But make sure you eat as much as you can so there’s something there for him.’

  Bobby brought up hot water and the nurse swiftly washed and changed the baby, and helped Nellie to do the same, and as she worked she talked.

  ‘Maggie Nolan from next door is doing your washing and seeing to you during the day, isn’t she? The less that dirty old faggot from downstairs has to do with you the better. I didn’t want her to touch you yesterday but I had to try to save the baby.’

  ‘I’m glad you did, Nurse,’ Nellie said timidly. She took a deep breath ready to ask the nurse about the baby’s early arrival but the woman was saying urgently, ‘Now listen, Nellie. Your ma was very thick with old Janey but she’s gone now and you should get rid of Janey as soon as you can.’

  ‘But she’s looked after me all these months and looked after Bobby since Ma died,’ Nellie protested.

  ‘For her own reasons, I’ll bet,’ the nurse said grimly. ‘I’ll have to go now. Remember, eat as much as you can and keep him warm – and think about what I’ve said about the old woman. Keep clear of her and her tricks.’

  She was away, calling, ‘See you tomorrow,’ before Nellie had a chance to ask her about the baby and with a slight feeling of relief she decided her questions could wait for another day.

  A few minutes later Sam came upstairs and stood rather sheepishly beside the bed. He had evidently shaved and held his head under the tap as Bobby had said. His dark hair was sleeked flat but escaped into tight curls as it dried.

  ‘You all right, Ellie?’ he asked and Nellie nodded and took the baby from beneath the clothes.

  ‘Do you want to hold him, Sam?’ she asked but he backed away in alarm.

  ‘Strewth, no, I might drop him,’ he said but when Nellie turned back the child’s clothes to show Sam his feet he came close to the bed again.

  ‘He’s like a doll,’ he gasped. ‘Bobby told me the way the nurse brought him round, like.’

  ‘She was awful clever the way she done it, Sam,’ Nellie said. ‘Dowsing him in cold water then in hot and then clouting him. I thought she might hurt him but it done the trick. I couldn’t believe it when he cried out.’

  ‘Mrs Nolan told me the old girl should’ve sent for her sooner,’ Sam said. He bent and clumsily kis
sed Nellie. ‘I’m sorry you had a bad time, girl,’ he said but Nellie smiled happily.

  ‘I don’t care, Sam,’ she said, ‘as long as the baby’s all right.’

  Sam gently touched the baby’s face with his calloused finger. ‘What did the nurse say today?’ he asked.

  ‘She just said I’ve got to keep him warm and I’ve got to eat as much as I can for when I feed him.’

  She blushed as she spoke but Sam only said, ‘Maggie Nolan can get what you fancy, like. I’ve give her a few bob.’

  He seemed to have forgotten the men’s taunts of the previous night and Nellie devoutly hoped that he had been too drunk to register what they said but she only said, ‘Maggie hasn’t seen the baby yet.’

  ‘It was her day for the Board of Guardians,’ Sam said. ‘She’ll be in soon.’ He stretched and yawned. ‘I’ve got to get down to the ship.’

  ‘I wish you wasn’t sailing so soon,’ Nellie said wistfully.

  ‘So do I, girl,’ Sam said, ‘but I had to sign on for the advance note. I was skint. Anyhow, I’ve paid the nurse and seen Maggie.’

  ‘And left me all right too,’ Nellie said. ‘Have you got enough left?’

  ‘Aye, I’m all right,’ Sam said.

  Nellie felt relaxed and happy chatting so easily with Sam and she began to wonder whether this was the right time to tell him about Leadbetter’s attack on her. He seemed to have forgotten his doubts of the previous night but what if talk of Leadbetter revived them?

  There was another consideration too. She remembered that Janey had said that if Sam was told he might go and beat Leadbetter and find himself in trouble. Before she could decide Sam had patted her cheek and gone to the door.

  ‘You’ll be all right, girl. Maggie’ll be in soon,’ he said.

  He went out whistling and Nellie snuggled down under the bedclothes again with the baby, not sure whether she was glad or sorry that the opportunity had passed.

  Janey was out with her fish and Bobby at school but a little later the eldest child from next door, nine-year-old Susan, came in. ‘Me mam’s still at the Guardians,’ she said. ‘But she told me I’d got to come in and do your dinner if she wasn’t back.’

  ‘Will you make some tea, please?’ Nellie said. ‘A cup for yourself as well and some jam butties for both of us.’

  ‘Me mam might shout,’ Susan said, but she was easily persuaded to eat with Nellie.

  Afterwards Nellie fed the baby again then slept until she was wakened by Sam arriving home. Although his eyes seemed bloodshot he was not drunk but his mood seemed to have changed again.

  ‘I’m off, Ellie,’ he said gruffly. ‘We’re off on the morning tide so I’m going aboard. I only come home for me bag.’

  ‘Will it be a six-month trip, Sam?’ Nellie said timidly. He nodded and Nellie lifted the baby from beneath the bedclothes. ‘He’ll have to be christened, Sam,’ she said nervously. ‘What shall I call him?’

  Sam raised his head and looked at her, his brown eyes like those of a beaten dog. ‘Whatever you like,’ he said, ‘you know best about that.’ A wave of colour rushed over Nellie’s face and her glance fell but before she could speak Sam said, ‘I’ll have to go, Buck Madden’s waiting for me. Ta-ra, then.’

  He turned away and went downstairs without looking at the baby or kissing Nellie but she jumped out of bed and called beseechingly, ‘Sam, Sam.’

  He came back upstairs. ‘Get back into bed, girl,’ he said, ‘you’ll catch your death.’

  Desperation made her brave and she slipped her arms round his neck and reached up to kiss him.

  Sam kissed her briefly, then lifted her and put her into the bed. ‘Oh, God, Ellie,’ he groaned, then turned away and went heavily downstairs.

  Nellie took the baby in her arms and wept bitterly. If only she had told Sam the truth. Now something had happened or someone had said something which made him doubt her again and she had lost the chance of telling him what had really happened.

  I swear I’ll tell him as soon as he comes home, she thought. But that was six months away and meanwhile poor Sam would have all these months with his joy in his wife and child clouded by the doubts that had been planted in his mind.

  With a sudden surge of protective love, Nellie held her baby close. He is what matters now, she thought. I must do whatever is best for him. Nothing must hurt or harm him no matter what happens with Sam and myself. Only the baby is important. And I’m determined he’ll have a better life than what me and Sam have had, she thought, kissing the child’s soft cheek.

  Chapter Two

  Through the thin walls of the bedroom Nellie could hear her next-door neighbour, Johnny Nolan, coughing continuously but it was some time before his wife arrived. She rushed in eventually, a thin haggard woman with her face and shawl wet with the fog which still drifted about the streets.

  ‘I’m sorry, Nell. Are you all right, girl? I’ve been stuck in that place for hours. A big line of us waiting, then when I got in to the Board they wanted to know the ins and outs of Muldoon’s Cat. Trying to trip me up so they can take a bit of Relief off me. Was you all right?’

  ‘Yes, thanks, Mrs Nolan,’ Nellie said shyly. ‘Your Susan done me tea and jam butties.’

  ‘And ate some herself,’ Maggie Nolan said. ‘I give her down the banks for taking your food after your fella’s been so good to us.’

  ‘I made her take it, honest, Mrs Nolan,’ Nellie said. ‘She done me a lovely cup of tea.’

  ‘You’ll have to call me Maggie if I’m going to be in and out,’ Maggie said. She unwrapped the cloth she carried. ‘I’ve brought you a soft-boiled egg beat up in a cup. Would you like a butty and a cup of tea with it?’

  ‘Yes please – er, Maggie,’ Nellie said blushing. ‘Will you do enough for both of us?’

  Maggie went downstairs chuckling. ‘After me telling our Susan off,’ she said. ‘And now I’m doing the same.’

  ‘You want to eat as much as you can, girl,’ she said when she returned with the bread and butter and tea. ‘A long labour’s weakening and you want to keep him on the breast as long as you can. You don’t want to fall too quickly for another one.’

  Nellie blushed. ‘Sam’ll be away for six months,’ she said.

  She sounded sad and Maggie said cheerfully, ‘He’ll come home to a fine little lad then. These little babies are fighters and you can see them come on better than big fat ones.’

  ‘Nurse said she’s seen smaller than him survive. She said he’s about five pounds,’ Nellie said eagerly.

  ‘There you are then and she’s a clever woman. She knows what she’s talking about,’ Maggie said. ‘The old girl should have sent for her sooner. Old faggot. She could have been the death of the two of you.’

  ‘Nurse saved the baby,’ Nellie said.

  ‘Aye, so I heard. And now you’ve got to get yourself strong. Sam left money with me for treats for you, to get you to eat,’ Maggie said.

  ‘I’m fine now that the baby’s born,’ Nellie said. ‘Before that I was sick all day and every day. Couldn’t keep nothing down.’

  ‘I never seen you after you come home sick from your place,’ Maggie said. ‘Janey wouldn’t let no one near you. I used to worry about you because I know what she is but I couldn’t do nothing. I don’t know how you stand her, Nell.’

  ‘She looked after me. She was good, like,’ Nellie said diffidently.

  Maggie shrugged. ‘I suppose no one’s all bad but you wanna be careful, Nell. She’d buy and sell us before we got up in the morning. Crafty as a cartload of monkeys.’

  ‘Nurse said I should ask her to shift,’ Nellie said. ‘But how can I? She came here with Ma from the Dingle when I was born and she stayed here with Bobby after Ma died and then looked after me when I was sick.’

  ‘Only because it suited her,’ Maggie said. ‘That side door’s handy for her moneylending and for other things too. People can slide in and out and no one any the wiser. And she had your dad’s money when she looked after Bobby and
Sam’s once you was married after your dad backed off his ship and his money stopped. You don’t owe her nothing, Nell.’ Maggie stood up. ‘My mam used to say me tongue was tied in the middle and I think she was right,’ she said. ‘I’ll leave you to get some sleep.’

  She went but her words had given Nellie too much to think about for sleep to come to her. Was that the reason Janey had arranged her marriage to Sam? Because her father’s pay had stopped when he deserted his ship and she wanted Sam’s steady wage to replace it and keep the house going?

  It seemed quite possible to Nellie and for the first time she began to wonder how Janey had persuaded Sam to marry her. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, she thought, but I was just like I was doped and doing everything she told me. But how did she fix it with Sam? I’ll have to ask her.

  When Janey arrived Nellie said quickly, before her courage failed, ‘Janey, how did you get Sam to marry me? What did you tell him?’

  Janey sniggered. ‘I didn’t tell him nothing about the other fella, you can bet your boots. Them fellas in the Volley were right calling him Soft Sam. He swallered everything I told him. I knew he’d come ashore and he’d be drinking in the Volley so I collared him when he’d had a few.’ She sniggered again and Nellie persisted.

  ‘But what did you tell him, Janey?’ She could smell gin on the old woman’s breath and thought it might loosen Janey’s tongue.

  ‘I told him you got sent home from your place without a character because you got blamed for what another girl done. I said you’d took ill and there wasn’t no money because your da had backed out in America. By the time I finished with him he thought it was his own idea to marry you.’ She cackled then suddenly suspicious she thrust her face close to Nellie’s. ‘Wharra you asking all these questions for?’ she demanded.

  ‘I was – was just wondering,’ Nellie faltered.

  ‘Aye, good job I done it, whether you had a bun in the oven or not,’ Janey muttered. ‘You wouldn’t have got nothing off the other fella.’