BooksBarbecue
Back Sisters of Gold Save as PDF
Chapters (64)
  1. Cover
  2. Title page
  3. Dedication page
  4. A Week’s Work in Birmingham
  5. I
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Ten
  16. Eleven
  17. Twelve
  18. Thirteen
  19. Fourteen
  20. Fifteen
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-One
  27. Twenty-Two
  28. Twenty-Three
  29. Twenty-Four
  30. II
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Twenty-Six
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. Thirty-Nine
  46. III
  47. Forty
  48. Forty-One
  49. Forty-Two
  50. Forty-Three
  51. Forty-Four
  52. Forty-Five
  53. Forty-Six
  54. Forty-Seven
  55. Forty-Eight
  56. Forty-Nine
  57. Fifty
  58. Fifty-One
  59. Fifty-Two
  60. Fifty-Three
  61. Acknowledgements
  62. Further Reading
  63. About the Author
  64. By the Same Author

‘I make things as well, sometimes.’ Daisy held out her arm and showed a silver bangle, its surface hammered so that its tiny dimpled planes gave back the light. ‘I make the shape in my size on the mandrel and solder it and then I can make patterns if I want.’

‘It’s lovely,’ Margaret said.

‘I’ve made other things – other bracelets, a bowl . . .’ She was matter-of-fact about it. ‘I can teach you, if you want.’

Margaret felt a pulse of delight. Could she really do something like that? But she must be careful not to presume. She had no idea what Mr Tallis might think of any of this.

‘Your father teaches you, I suppose? And what do you want to do when you grow up, Daisy?’ It was not a question she often asked children, because with so many of those in the village it was obvious their future would be to work in the fields and farm cottages. But here things were different and she could see a talent before her. Another aloof look met her.

‘I want to be like my mother,’ she said.

Margaret smiled, and was trying to decide what to reply when the door opened and Aunt Hatt’s smiling face looked around it. She wore a deep plum-coloured dress with a black shawl over it and, as ever, looked very fine.

‘Ah – there you are. Hello, Daisy.’ Her voice was warm and welcoming. ‘Would you like some cordial?’ Aunt Hatt seemed pleased to spoil the girl a little.

Daisy nodded and Aunt Hatt retreated to the kitchen just as Annie appeared as well, pink-cheeked, as if she had been hurrying.

‘Hello!’ She greeted Daisy with pleasure. Both she and Margaret were very used to the company of children, to guiding and teaching. She put her head on one side. ‘My goodness – what a marvellous drawing!’

‘D’you want a cup of tea, Annie?’ Aunt Hatt called from the back.

Soon they were all settled together. Aunt Hatt brought in a tray with tea and lime cordial and shortbread biscuits. Annie had come back from the cleaning session at the factory, bolted down her dinner and hurried out again. Now she was munching on a biscuit as if famished once more.

‘I must say,’ Aunt Hatt remarked as Annie swallowed her mouthful, ‘I’ve never known anyone so small eat so much.’

Annie grinned. ‘It’s because I move very fast, Auntie,’ she said.

‘Well, you certainly do that.’ Aunt Hatt sat back in her chair, relaxing with her tea.