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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

A contemptuous look came over Mrs Wills’s face; the bullying look of someone who has power over others.

‘Them Pooles’ve pushed me as far as I can go,’ she said. ‘’Er with her fly-by-night husband. I’ve never seen you round here before. Why should I believe anything you say?’

Annie could feel her temper beginning to fray.

‘Look,’ she said, in a clipped voice. ‘There are children who need to eat and Mrs Poole is unwell. I will pay this bill. I am the niece of Ebenezer Watts, of Chain Street. I can guarantee you that you will get your money. But please – kindly fetch us some food so that these children do not have to go to bed hungry.’

At the mention of Ebenezer Watts, Mrs Wills’s expression changed into something more uncertain.

‘Mr Watts – ’im with the goldsmiths business?’ she said, suddenly ingratiating. ‘I see. Well – I suppose that’ll be all right. As long as you do pay me . . .’

‘I will pay,’ Annie repeated acidly. ‘I’ve just said so. Make us a parcel of what food you can – and I’ll pay the bill. Have you any milk?’

‘Not at this time o’ night, no,’ Mrs Wills sneered as if some unreasonable magical performance was being expected of her.

‘All right – well, whatever you have. Oh – and while you’re at it, put in a couple of mantles and some candles as well.’

Lizzie didn’t say anything until they were outside but Annie could see she was bursting with curiosity.

‘That told that old bitch,’ she said, as they walked back to the entry. She seemed to revive for a moment. ‘But how’re yer going to pay her?’

‘Like I said,’ Annie told her.

‘What – are you really Ebenezer Watts’s . . . niece, was it?’ Her voice held a tone of wonder, to add to the awe she already seemed to feel towards Annie.

‘Yes,’ Annie said. ‘That’s not so strange, is it?’

‘But your uncle must be a rich man.’ Lizzie hardly seemed to believe her. ‘Watts is a good firm. Why’re you working at Masters and Hogg?’

‘Well – everyone has to earn a living, don’t they?’ Annie replied lightly. ‘I can’t just live off Uncle.’

As they walked back along Pope Street and down the entry, she thought about her own wages. She was working hard but not earning so much as to outdo the other women. Holding Lizzie’s scrawny arm, she felt tender towards the girl, and resolved that Lizzie was going to have all the wages she earned that week. There’d certainly be a few shillings after all the stoppages for various things were deducted. But she knew it would be wiser to stay quiet about this intention for now.

Nineteen

Nineteen