Under the Hawthorn Tree Read Online Free Page B

young farmer called Ted Donnelly – he was a friend of their brothers. He liked them both,even though they were opposites. Aunt Nano was small and plump with brown curly hair, and Aunt Lena was tall and thin with straight black hair. He started to court them. He had a big farm and was an only son. Well, the two aunts were both determined to marry him. Aunt Nano invited him to tea and the table was laden with a feast she had prepared – meat pies and bread and an apple tart and a fruit cake. However, the next week Aunt Lena went on a picnic with him and provided cooked chicken and scones and sweet cake and all kinds of fine things. Week in, week out, he had lunch or tea on the farm and they both made cakes for him, and his mother too called to visit.
    ‘But then a strange thing happened. There wasn’t sight nor sound out of him for a few weeks. Then Peadar, their brother, came and told them that Ted was getting married to a girl called Nellie Donovan. She could neither cook nor sew, but was the ideal wife for him. She would be frugal in the kitchen and let his mother continue to run the house as she always had without interference, while she would help with the livestock and the hard work of the farm.
    ‘The two aunts were heartbroken for a few days, but then one day after Sunday lunch they announced that they had spotted an empty shop inCastletaggart town near the market, and with their savings and allowances they were going to rent it and open a speciality shop. Their father opened and closed his mouth and did not know what to say, but his two stubborn daughters would not change their minds.
    “Marriage is not for us,” they both insisted, and over the years if anyone mentioned men, they always murmured, “Remember Ted Donnelly; he ended up with five fine straps of sons but his home was the dirtiest and shabbiest in the district.”’
    Eily looked down. Peggy’s eyes had shut and Michael was rolled up in a ball in the middle of the blankets.
    All the next morning they kept waiting for Mother’s return, but she didn’t come.
    Eily was just in the middle of melting some lard and meal when the clatter of horses’ hooves came up the lane. They could see it was the overseer, Jer Simmonds. He worked for the landlord and was in charge of all the tenants. With him was his assistant, Tom Daly. What did they want? The children kept still.
    ‘Open up the door,’ shouted Jer, ‘else we’ll break it in on ye.’ Eily got up to open the latch. Anyway,perhaps they had news of Mother.
    She stood in the doorway, the other two hiding behind her.
    ‘Where are your Mother and Father?’ he shouted.
    She was frightened.
    ‘Hold on, now, hold on, don’t be fussing her. This is John and Margaret O’Driscoll’s place, and you must be the eldest, Ellen is it?’ coaxed Tom Daly.
    ‘I’m Eily, begging your pardon,’ was all she managed to say.
    ‘Are your parents sick with the fever? Has anyone died in the family?’ questioned Jer Simmonds.
    ‘No, they’re fine, but our little sister Bridget died a while back. Father is gone on the roadworks. We heard tell that he is on the far side of the village,’ she answered.
    ‘Where is Margaret, your mother?’ asked Tom Daly.
    Eily looked at him. Most people said he was a fair man and that he often appealed to Jer or the master, Sir Edward, on behalf of a poor tenant. His cheeks were ruddy, and despite his fine clothes and airs he was still only a farmer at heart.
    ‘Mother is gone to look for him. I’m minding the place. She should be back later today.’
    Tom accepted her answer. Jer Simmonds started to remount his horse.
    ‘The master and family have left this God-forsaken island and gone back to England. There is no work for anyone now. I am ordered to check all the cottages and send those to the workhouse that have no man or means of keeping themselves. Tell your mother we’ll call again tomorrow. If she has disappeared you can’t stay here on your own, and will have to