Love & Sorrow Read Online Free Page A

Modom?”
    Nellie glared at Meg and gave a mocking tilt of her
head towards Miss Martin, clearly waiting for Meg to introduce her. The uneasy
silence stretched and the moment of opportunity passed. Drawing herself to her
full height, Nellie assumed her best attempt at ‘proper, pan-loaf speech’ and
said: “No, thank ye, my good woman, there’s absolutely nothing here in yer
little shop for me. I think I’ll try some of the better stores in Sauchiehall
Street. Good day to ye.”
    With that and a ‘more in sorrow than in anger’ look at
Meg, Nellie, her head held high and cuddling the precious bundle of Becky,
marched out of the haberdashery.
    Petronella pursed her lips as the door pinged shut
behind Nellie and turning to Meg said: “Honestly! Some people. Sauchiehall
Street indeed. Paddy’s Market would be rather more to her taste … if her speech
and that flea-bitten shawl are anything to go by. I can’t think why the likes
of her and her snivelling child bothered to come in to my lovely haberdashery
in the first place, can you Meg?”
    When Meg’s only reply was a sorrowful shake of the
head, Petronella wiped her hands in a grand theatrical manner as if dismissing
the recent representative of the lower orders. She turned to Meg with a smile.
“Now, what about a cup of tea in the back shop? We could both do with a
reviver, don’t you think? We’ll leave young Cissie in charge for half-an-hour.
It’s high time she was taking more responsibility. Anyway, there’s something I
want to discuss with you in private.”
    Over the tea Petronella’s private matter was her hobby
horse about Meg’s social life or rather the lack of it. “There’s another soirée
coming soon at the church hall and I’m determined you will go this time. I’ve
seen the way that young man Jack Dunn looks at you in church since you met him
at the last soirée I managed to get you to attend.”

 
    ***

 
 
 
    Chapter 7

 
    Wee Becky was now a little over a year old and a
bonnier baby was not to be seen in the whole of Glasgow. Although kept busy
with her work at the haberdashery and helping to look after Mrs Martin, Meg
managed to visit her child as often as possible and whenever Rab’s absence at
work presented an opportunity she took advantage of it. On these occasions she
marvelled at her baby’s progress and thanked Nellie for all her help.
    However, on one evening in the late summer of 1900 as
the two sisters sat together over a pot of tea, with Nellie’s own children
playing round their feet while Becky slept peacefully, Meg wore a worried
frown.
    Observing this for some time Nellie finally said:
“Listen, Meg. For the love o the wee man will ye just stop worryin about
nothin? What’ll happen will happen and there’s naethin the likes o us can do
about it.”
    “Don’t worry! Don’t worry,” Meg snapped. “Hmph. That’s
easily said. Do you even know what I’ve been talking about? For heaven’s sake,
Nellie, do you pay attention to nothing that’s going on?”
    Nellie glowered. “That’s bluidy charmin, I must say,
especially comin from the likes o ye. Oh, Ah pey attention aw right … damn sure
Ah dae. Ah spend every wakin hour takin care o a houseful of bairns – no
forgettin yer ain wee bas– er, yer ain wee precious Becky. And if that disnae
fit the bill o payin attention, mibbe yer ladyship wid climb doon aff yer high
horse lang enough tae tell me jist whit the hell we’re talking aboot.”
    Meg matched stare for stare with her sister before
finally saying: “Nellie, can you see nothing beyond the confines of your own
pathetic little world? What I am talking about, in fact, what the entire
population of Glasgow – with one possible exception – is discussing is the
latest outbreak of plague. The whole city is in a panic. And no wonder.
Imagine! Eleven cases of bubonic plague and another ninety-three contacts under
observation at Belvedere Hospital. Surely even you are concerned about