Effie goes home .....Chapter 2

[AnneM]

Effie goes home

Two days have passed now since the death of Adam Kerr amid much activity. The funeral arrangements have been made by Ninian, whose better judgement suggested that he should make sure that the decencies were observed. Adam is securely placed in his coffin, lying in the drawing room of his home, looking more peaceful in death than he ever did in life. Few visitors have come to pay their respects.

In the book lined study of the manse, the Rev Dr Denholm is scratching his grey head with the end of his pen and trying vainly to think of something good to say about Adam in his eulogy. A quiet, learned man, he detests conflict and is quite without any ambition. Despite being the younger son of a laird and having studied extensively in Scotland and Europe at his father’s expense, he has never sought anything but the life of a parish minister.

“I don’t know why you bother,” says his wife, “There’s nothing good to be said about him. Look how he’s always treated poor Ninian.”

“De mortuis nil nisi bonis, dear” mutters Dr Denholm abstractedly.

“That’s as maybe, but he was a bad man and a bad father”, replies Mrs Denholm, who is known as a doting mother to her four sons. By virtue of their mother’s uncritical devotion and their father’s passivity these young gentlemen, now all respectable professional men, ruled the household and terrorised the neighbourhood from the day they were put into short clothes.

“I just wonder what they’ll say about me when my time comes”, muses the minister. His own sternest critic, he knows that some people would describe him as weak and indecisive. Indeed, he might even so describe himself. It seems to him that the defining moment of his life was when, as a young man, he remained in his seat when so many of his fellows streamed out into George Street on that day that tore the church in two. Did he regret staying in the established church? He was not sure but he acknowledged ruefully that he lacked the passion which enabled men, many less comfortably circumstanced than he and with more to lose, to risk everything for a principle. From that moment on nothing he did ever seemed to matter.

His solace is to lose himself in the books on philosophy and language which now surround him on shelves and on the floor, much to his wife’s disgust. He cares diligently for his flock and preaches uncontroversial sermons which avoid mention of concepts he finds difficult such as hell.

Now, sighing deeply, he returns to his unwelcome task.

Back at Adam’s house Effie has decided, not without some misgivings, that she can leave Jessie and George in charge for a few hours and return home to visit her family. Donning her best bonnet which she has respectfully trimmed with black ribbon, she sets off to walk the 5 miles to her parents’ cottage. On a bright early spring afternoon she makes good progress. Her small plump figure can still recall the lively, pretty and energetic 20 year old who first came to work for Adam Kerr. As she walks she thinks over the past 15 years. When she first knew Adam he was a vigorous man, still quite handsome in middle age. She had gone quite willingly to his bed, spoiling her prospects of marriage. Why had she done so? She does not really know the answer to that herself.

By the time she reaches her mother’s home she is rather tired and overly warm, thinking gratefully that the Denholm’s manservant has offered to pick her up on the way home from an errand for his employers. She accepts the cup of tea her mother offers with real relief.

There could be no bigger contrast than between Adam Kerr’s house and Effie’s family home. No more than a small cottage, with mostly rough wooden furniture, it is bright and well kept by Betty Redpath, a notable housewife, as Effie herself had once been before Adam's indifference and parsimony had caused her to lose heart. Now Betty is stirring a mutton stew in a large black pot. She has learnt through years to make a little go a long way but with 3 people bringing a wage into the house plus what Effie can send of the little Adam pays her the family is by no means in dire poverty.

This is just as well, as Effie’s father sits in his chair by the fireside, no longer able to work. Like Adam, he breathes with some difficulty, his lungs ruined by the strands of cotton which infested the air in the mill. However he is a cheerful, easy going man who tries hard not to let his frustration spill over.

Despite her intention to tell the family what had happened on Adam’s last night, Effie finds herself unable to do so. Their many well meaning questions and wonderings over Adam’s difficult nature make communication impossible.

Soon the three remaining, home-based offspring of the Redpath household spill in the door from work. First to enter is young Betty, a plump and pretty woman in her mid twenties bearing a strong resemblance to her elder sister. She is followed by her youngest brother, Willie. Curly haired and handsome, he is his mother’s darling and the ruin of many of the girls in the village. Last in the door is the youngest daughter of the house, Sarah, at 14 already a head taller than either of her older sisters and rapidly catching up on her brothers. Betty is obviously white faced and shocked and all clearly have a tale to tell.

Mother Betty presses a cup of tea into her daughter’s hand. “The most awful accident happened” she chokes “Maggie Wightman was working at her loom when a shuttle flew out and hit her in the eye. She’s dead!”

Sarah, obviously feeling that the story as related by Betty lacks drama, adds, “They took her home and laid her on the kitchen table. The doctor came and tried to operate but she died of the pain. They say there was blood everywhere and she was screaming horribly.”

From being white, Betty turns green and dashes outside. With all the insenstivity of adolescence her junior continues, “ They’re going to make a report to the Proc.., Proc…Procurator Fiscal”, she enunciates with pleasure at her knowledge.

“What do you know about the Procurator Fiscal, Miss Clever?,” asks her brother.

“More than you do, or anyway you’ll know more if they catch you with one of these pheasants or find out what you were up to with Jeanie Anderson on the moor behind the mill.”

“Mother, will you tell her to mind her words. If she can’t curb her sharp tongue she’ll never get a husband”

“Who wants one of those? You just have to cook and clean all day and wash their disgusting clothes. Having babies is horrible as well. Agnes screamed for hours when wee Lizzie was born” says she, referring to the sister next in age to Effie.

This is too much for mother Betty, “Will you two have some respect! Effie has just lost her employer and Betty her friend. Sarah, set the table! Poor Maggie, at least her mother will care for the bairn,”

Sarah looks up immediately from her task. “What bairn? Maggie didn’t have a bairn.” She thinks for a moment about the Wightman family. “Betsey!” she says “Is Betsey really Maggie’s bairn and not Mrs Wightman’s? Does she know?”

Betty is flustered and looks around for rescue at the others.

Effie asks Sarah “So you don’t want a husband. What would you do if you could do what you wanted?”

“I’d go back to school” replies Sarah unexpectedly, “There is so much to learn”.

Her brother looks at her in disbelief and scorn but Effie puts her arm around the slim waist.

“Come out for a walk with me. I need a word with you.” she says.

Betty and Willie senior look at each other in concern. A cold, heavy feeling in her chest tells Betty that her world is about to be turned inside out.



PS Margaret Wightman did live and die in this way. She was my great grandfather's aunt and she did indeed have an illegitimate daughter called Elizabeth who was brought up by Margaret's mother.

[HeatherH]

Bravo Anne .I enjoyed this one as much as the first .Please say there is more to come.
HK

[mesklin]

Anne

There is another star in the firmament. Thank you.

Dave

[JustJean]

There's nothing finer on a grey and rainy Sunday afternoon than a good read. Thanks for the continuing saga.....looking forward to much more!!
Jean

[grannysrock]

Anne
This is getting better and better. I'm really looking forward to the next installment...

Sally

[marilyn morning]

=D>

Marilyn

[Alison Plenderleith]

Thanks for that, Anne.

I had put off reading it till today as I enjoyed the first installment so much I wanted to give this one the time it deserved. When's the next part due?

All the Best,

Alison

[Laura]

Anne,

Are you taking pre-orders on the book?

Regards,
Laura

[Alison Plenderleith]

Hello Anne,

Don't want to hassle you but it would be lovely if we had a further instalment in time for the bank holiday - plenty of time to read it then!

Regards,

Alison

[AnneM]

Hi folks

Have had a couple of problems. One was in South Africa for 10 days, then had to help daughter move flat. This meant that when I came back work was very busy and a whole weekend of daughter moving has meant that housework had to be done at times when I normally would be free-ish. Second now have to go to Dunoon for this weekend to see my mother who is not very well just now. The most embarrassing of all is however that Word keeps crashing my computer, yes indeed Word!!!! I must be the only person I know for whom Word causes a problem. This makes it very difficult to write. I know I could write straight onto the TS site but that is not ideal. It seemed to be behaving better when I last tried it so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next installment gets finished soon (it is started) without a crash! If it's any consolation I do know what happens tom Effie, Ninian and co. Had lots of time to work it out when in South Africa.

In the meantime very sorry for the delay.

Anne