i f6c06dd9cf3fe221 by Unknown (100 books to read in a lifetime .txt) 📗

"Have you quite finished?" asked Kate.

"Nearly," said Stella.

"You will need money for such a hasty withdrawal. Here," she said, placing a roll of notes on the table, 'is enough to take you quite a distance from this county, and to keep you and your child until you find suitable work. "

Kate stared straight at Stella: "Would you mind picking up that money?"

she asked, with dangerous quiet.

"We don't want any heroics. Miss Hannigan; nor hypocrisy," said Stella firmly.

"I am sure you know the value of money. You will no doubt need..."

She did not finish; for Kate's hand shot out, and, picking up the roll, threw it into the heart of the fire.

The effect on Stella was paralysing for a second. Then she cried, "Are you crazy, you fool ? Pick it out 1 ... There's twenty pounds there, get it out!"

"It's your money," said Kate.

"It's there for you to take."

The bundle of notes was well alight. Stella made an effort to put her hand towards them, then drew it back. She lifted the poker and tried to flip then out, but only succeeded in fanning the blaze. She stood watching them helplessly, venomous rage consuming her. There was a swelling of flame, and they were gone. Pieces of black charred paper broke away and floated up the wide chimney.

It was not the loss of the twenty pounds, for it would have been a loss had Kate accepted, but it was Kate's spurning of it that infuriated Stella.

She turned a white, contorted face to Kate: "You'll be sorry you did that." She gave a short, bitter laugh.

"It was foolish of me to offer it. Why, I should have known; Rodney was ever generous where his fancy led him. Your great gesture has been lost. Miss Hannigan. But I am afraid from now on you'll find your source of income cut off. So I repeat, you'll be sorry you did that.

"I will take my leave. Miss Hannigan." She waited for Kate to precede her through the room, but Kate stood stiff and staring.

Kate knew she dare not speak, a hate she had never experienced before was raging within her, and she was afraid of it. She wanted to throw herself on this woman and rend her; there was an overpowering desire to beat her fists into that cold, sneering face. She knew that if she spoke all the work of Bernard Tolmache would be destroyed in a second.

One word would release this fury, and she would act worse than any woman of the fifteen streets; the self she had created through constant observation and study would perish in the flame of this hate.

Not even Tim Hannigan had aroused such a destructive urge.

After waiting a moment, Stella raised her eyebrows and walked past Kate, so dose to her that their skirts touched. She went through the front-room, passing Annie, who was standing with her hands up her sleeves, without a word. She found difficulty in opening the door, and Annie came forward shyly and undid it. Stella gave her no word of thanks; she did not even look at her, but stepped down on to the pavement and into the crowd of children who were surging around the car.

From the window, Annie watched the car drive away, with the screaming children hanging on behind. She watched the curtains being put back into place at the windows opposite and dark figures disappearing into doorways. She watched until the street became quiet again, for she couldn't go into the kitchen . the lovely bright, shining light had gone from the day. She did not want to look at Kate, for she knew that the light would be gone from her too. She stood trembling, cold inside and out.

Kate remained standing where Stella had left her; the feeling of rage was dying away and a terrible ache was taking its place. This had been bound to happen; why had she blinded herself all these months?

What had she expected? That he would just come back? Come straight to her and they would live happily ever after, while she, his wife, would sit back and let it happen ?

Stella, she realised, had not only the law on her side but she had Rodney in the hollow of her hand; that she could break him and that she would, rather than allow him to go free, was evident, and that she had struck the right note when saying that man needed something more than passion, Kate knew. Rodney loved his work, it had been his life for so many years, and, without it, he would be lost . and lost he would eventually become it she stayed here; for she knew that, no matter what Stella threatened, he would come to her, throwing everything to the winds. She leaned against the wall and beat it slowly with her fist.

Annie, hearing the dull thuds, crept to the kitchen door, and stood, horrified, watching. Kate made no sign, and Annie could not go to her.

This crying, this sorrow was different from any she had ever seen; it frightened her and created a sorrow inside of her which was unbearable.

She crept back into the room again.

Mrs. Mullen let an hour elapse after seeing the car drive away, and she wondered if it would look nosey if she were to go in and see Kate now. She had been behind her curtains, like the majority of the women in the street, waiting to see the 'lady' come out. It was Doctor Prince's wife, Rosie had told her; everybody in the street knew who it was. Oh, poor Kate 1 . Pool Kate! She had been over the moon these past few weeks; and now what would happen ?