Riches of the Heart Read Online Free Page B

he called it, and one day the fishmonger asked her to go out with him. She refused him gently, so he wouldn’t be offended.
    Each day, once she’d finished cleaning the interior of the shop, she’d go outside and assist her employer. The clothes on display were of a decent quality and business was brisk. Lily had a natural rapport with people and she made an excellent saleswoman. Mrs Cohen was pleased.
    In quieter moments, Lily would gaze in the window of the pawnbroker’s opposite, looking at the jewellery on display, unclaimed by the owners. It would be nice to be able to afford such luxuries. She’d watch people file into ‘Uncle’s’ as it was known, pawning their precious belongings – for instance, their only suit – which they would then retrieve a few days later. It was a hard life for many, but she was lucky.
    One day, as she was gazing at the jewellery, Abraham the pawnbroker came to the door. ‘Vat you looking at, Lily?’
    ‘All these wonderful rings and brooches. Are they real diamonds?’
    ‘Some are. You vant to try some on?’ He ushered her into the shop.
    She was fascinated by the stock inside. There were musical instruments, old furniture, paintings, military uniforms, medals and old coins. ‘It’s like Aladdin’s cave, Mr Abraham.’
    ‘Vell, you know how it is. Some people need the money more than the stuff.’ Abraham looked over his glasses at her. ‘I’m here to do the needy a service, my dear.’ But she knew that he made a good living out of other people’s misery. ‘Here, try on this diamond ring.’
    Lily held out her hand, eyes bright. ‘One day I’ll have one of these,’ she told him.
    ‘And how are you gonna earn such money? Not vorking for old Mrs Cohen.’
    Lily thought it funny that he of all people should refer to Rachel as old. He was balding, his face was wrinkled and his beard was long and wispy.
    ‘One day I’ll marry a rich man.’
    Abraham laughed. ‘I hope you do, my dear. But remember this. Money ain’t everything. You have the love of a good man, you have so much more. You have riches of the heart.’
    Handing back the ring, she said, ‘I’d best go or Rachel will get mad at me.’
    He caught hold of her arm with his scrawny hand. ‘You come and see me any time, Lily.’
    At night, alone in the shop, Lily would try on the exquisitely decorated evening gowns. Tying beaded ribbon around her forehead, she would pick up a long cigarette-holder and prance around, pretending she was attending some grand function. Or she’d dress up in one of the hats and sing one of Marie Lloyd’s songs.
    Sometimes, Rachel would let Lily wear one of the hats as she served. Her good looks and dark wavy hair were a perfect foil for the creations, and the sale of them escalated.
    One Saturday morning, a tall, good-looking young man, his hair the shade of autumn leaves, stopped outside to examine a smart dark-brown gent’s suit.
    ‘That would suit you, sir, with your colouring,’ Lily piped up, walking over to him.
    ‘Would it now.’ As he smiled, his hazel eyes twinkled.
    He was neatly dressed. His suit was clean but old, yet his shoes gleamed with polish and around his neck he wore a red neckerchief. In a soft Irish brogue he asked, ‘And how much would you be wanting for the suit then?’
    ‘Two and six. Cheap at half the price,’ Lily grinned. ‘You’ll be able to cut quite a dash wearing that. Better with a shirt and tie, of course. Make you look a real gent!’
    Chuckling, he asked, ‘Are you saying I don’t look a gent now?’
    Blushing she retorted, ‘Did I say that? Well, did I?’
    ‘You did not. What’s your name?’
    ‘Lily.’
    ‘Just Lily? Don’t you have a surname?’
    ‘Lily Pickford.’ She’d decided she’d call herself after Mary Pickford, the film star. ‘I’m an orphan,’ she added.
    ‘Sure and that’s sad,’ he said, his voice full of sympathy.
    ‘No, I do all right. Now, do you want to buy the suit before someone else realises