Pauper's Gold Read Online Free Page A

workhouse, aren’t you?
You’ve come on the carrier’s cart to Buxton and then Bert’s brought you to the top of the hill. But the wily old bird won’t bring you all the way down in case his scrawny
horse can’t get back up again. Am I right?’
    The children glanced at each other and then smiled.
    ‘How d’you know all that?’ Luke asked.
    ‘Because it happens every year, that’s why. When Mr Critchlow wants more children to work in his mill, he sends word to the master of the workhouse and along you all come. Bin
happening for years.’
    ‘Why . . . why does he need so many?’ Hannah asked. A sudden shiver ran through her. She wasn’t sure she should have asked the question. She might not like the answer.
    ‘Ah well, now,’ the woman turned away, busying herself over a huge pan of stew sitting on the hob of the kitchen range, ‘I wouldn’t know about that.’
    Hannah stared at her stooping back. She had the feeling that the woman knew only too well, but didn’t want to tell them. She sighed, but as a plate of stew and dumplings was set before
her, she forgot about her worries and concentrated on filling her empty belly.
    The farmer’s wife sat down opposite. She let them eat their fill before she asked, ‘Now, tell me your names. Mine’s Mrs Grundy.’
    ‘This is Jane Pickering and these two are twins.’
    Mrs Grundy nodded. ‘Aye, I can see that. Like as two peas in a pod, aren’t you?’
    ‘Luke and Daniel Hammond and I’m Hannah. Hannah Francis.’
    The woman smiled at them and nodded, ‘I’m pleased to meet you all. And don’t forget, if you want to visit me any time – any time at all – there’ll always be a
welcome for you at Rushwater Farm. You’ll not meet my husband today. He’s busy with the evening milking now, but he’ll be pleased to see you an’ all. He loves children
too.’
    Hannah rose from her chair. ‘You’ve been very kind, Mrs Grundy,’ she said politely, ‘and we’d love to stay longer, but perhaps we’d best be going. Could you
please tell us which road we should take to the mill?’
    ‘’Course I can,’ the woman said, heaving herself up from her chair and leading them to the back door. She walked out of the yard to the road and then pointed. ‘Take the
road on the left here and just keep on. You’ll soon see it. Mind you,’ she went on, ‘you’d be best to go straight to the apprentice house. Go up the steep slope at the side
of the mill to the row of houses directly behind it. It’s the third building along. A white house. Ask for Mr or Mrs Bramwell. They’re the superintendents. Now, off you go.
They’ll be expecting you and it’ll be dark soon.’
    She stood watching the children walk along the lane until they were out of sight.
    ‘God be with you, my dears,’ she murmured, thankful that the youngsters couldn’t see the tears in her eyes.

 
Four
    ‘Is . . . is that it? Is that the mill?’ Luke’s voice was suddenly scared. ‘It’s awfully big, isn’t it?’
    The four children stood in the pillared gateway and looked at the place where they’d come to live and work. There were three huge buildings. The biggest was rectangular and set with its
back against a steep hill, its rows of numerous small-paned windows facing down the dale. Set at right angles to that was another oblong shape, and the third, a square building, stood at the end of
the second one.
    ‘Look at those houses built on the hill behind it,’ Luke murmured. ‘You’d think they’d fall off, wouldn’t you?’
    ‘I can hear water,’ Daniel murmured.
    Luke turned suddenly and darted across the road. ‘There’s a big pond here and a stream that goes under the road.’ He re-crossed the lane. ‘And it comes out here. Then it
goes in front of the mill.’ He pointed to the bubbling brook. ‘And joins the river over there. On the far side of the mill. See?’
    They were all silent, staring about them. Jane, white-faced, cowered behind Hannah.
    ‘Come