He had lain in that hovel of the Rileys, hadn't he? Well, you only need to put your nose in the door of one of those shanties and the dickies, lice and bugs come out to meet you. You'll have to buy him a new rig-out, at least coat and pants. But when you're at it, you could throw in a couple of s...
She’s glad to escape, I think, and open her mouth, because she daren’t do it in the house. And she chatters away like a magpie; used to talking to herself most of the time by the sound of it, because I leave her at it.” “Does she do for you?” He turned and glanced at her, a twinkle in his eye now...
He was sitting in his shirt sleeves and wearing a pullover, and he looked at home, as he never did in Hannah's house. The little room had no window, and no light but that which came in from the shop through the half-glazed door. But it was extremely bright now, being lit by an electric bulb benea...
They haven’t got wind as to the man yet, but by God! they will do if you show your face at that funeral. And when those men of Hastings Old Town finish with you, you won’t have much face left to speak of, I know that.” Across the small space of the cottage kitchen, Abel Mason stared at his wife. ...
He could only make out the frame, but in his mind’s eye he saw the housewife and the child and the wonderful perspective of the tiled floor. A burst of flame to his right brought his head slowly round to where the kitchen had stood .. Mary would be at that end. He wasn’t aware that anyone had joi...
The roads were baked hard and here and there showed wide cracks. The air was heavy and thundery, and when the clouds did burst it would be a deluge, everyone said so. Nancy walked slowly up the drive towards the house. She had been to the main road to meet the post van and collect the letters. Le...
Henry, beautiful. Do you know, I hate to part with them. I would say don't give them away, if they weren't going to Emma. You know, you are clever." Lizzie picked up a set of strings with handles attached and began to manipulate the beautifully dressed, twelve-inch figure of Cinderella, saying as...
Bless my labour that has provided it and give me strength for this day. Amen." "Amen. Amen. Amen." Before the echo of the last amen faded, Edward MacFell was firmly seated in the big wooden armchair at the top of the table, and during the seconds of silence that followed he screwed his heavy butt...
It was then that Sammy, aiming to comfort Katie, told her that his father had asked him to talk to her. Having had a private weep in his bedroom, Sammy went across to Katie's room and told her just that, that he had been bidden by his father to talk to her because she was lonely. And it was stran...