Look, girl, if you bring a husband home, youll be out the door in a flash. We dont need any more shame, Grandmother Margaret tells Evelyn as she shoos her away. Evelyn didnt expect anything more from her grandmothers harsh words. Since she was a child she has heard that her mother, Margaret, has been a bit of a wanderer.
Five years with Tom, no children, then she went off on a holiday and brought back a boy, Margaret tells Evelyn, never minding the exact phrasing. No amount of arguing that her mother had travelled three years before Evelyn was born, and that she had gone with her sister Nadine, Evelyns aunt, can change her mind. Margaret repeats that Evelyn is a looseended child.
Evelyns father watches his wife like a wolf, and what else can he do when every day he hears that his wife is raising a troublesome girl? They live together in a large farmhouse; when the father married, he stayed close to his parents, feeling obliged to look after them. The mother despises her daughterinlaw, and whenever the son steps in, she tells him to push the woman away. I cant stand the way she walks, the way she sitsshes no match for you. The son rebels, says he loves her anyway.
The grandmother also dislikes the unwanted daughterinlaw, even though the girl has grown up in front of her eyes; she still sees her as an outsider. By contrast, her own granddaughter, a clever and pretty girl named Lily, is beloved, sweet, and dear to her heart. The other girlEvelynis stubborn, unsociable, and as sharptongued as a wolfs bite.
One day the little granddaughter runs over, twirling in a circle, calling Margaret grandma, but Margaret only glances at her with a cold stare, thinking, What a strangers blood. She doesnt know where to sit her or what to feed her.
Sweetheart, have some cucumbers, she offers.
I dont want them, theyre bitter, Evelyn replies.
Fine, theyre bitter, just like you, you lazy pest, Margaret snaps. Martha, Martha, feed the child, the hungry child. She hands over a plate of cream and a loaf.
The loaves are hard, the girl says petulantly.
Theyre hard, just like your stonelike bread, Martha, Margaret retorts, scolding her granddaughter while eyeing the lads flanks.
The house will be yours, my only grandchild, Margaret says. Do you think Ill leave a child without a roof? Let your parents sort it out, or look after yourselfeverythings ready for you.
Thats how Evelyn lives. Now she plans to go to the city to apply for university, and her grandmother gives her these parting words. Evelyn studies easily, with interest and energy. She loves everything about the citygirls in elegant dresses, women in smart trousers, courteous gentlemen.
She wants to show her mother the citys beauty, but how can she take her there? Her grandfather and grandmother wont let her; an old snake has latched onto the family and drinks its poison. Because of her mother, Evelyn only visits the city.
She befriends the hall warden, Mrs. Anne Andrews. Mrs. Andrews has a grown son up north with two grandchildren. Evelyn sits with her, and Anne pretends that Evelyns mother has been called to a parents meeting, saying a girl whos only a year old has been studying while her parents are absent, so theyll bring her mother to town.
They do just that. Evelyns father grumbles, Margaret snarls that the girl is flitting about with boys instead of studying. Evelyns mother fears being scolded, yet the teachers praise her daughter, and the mother feels a surge of pride.
Evelyn shows the hall and introduces Anne to her mother; the women quickly become friends.
Dont be shy, Mrs. Margaret, dear, says Mary.
All night the women sit with tea, and Mary tells her story.
Anne, Ive spent my whole life as a servant. Apart from Evelyn, I have no children. My husband and I arent hurting each otherwe just need a child, or even without one, were fine. Ive always got seven mouths to feed besides me. I studied hard, earned straight As, wanted to live in the city, go to the library, but it never seemed meant to be. Still, thank you, dear, for showing me the city. Ive never left the county before
Do you really think Im that lucky, Evelyn? Anne asks.
Itll be good if you stay in the city, Evelyns mother waves her hand. Otherwise shell live her whole life hoping a good man appears.
What do you do, Mary? asks Anne.
Im an accountant, working for the power company these past few years, Mary replies.
So youre educated, Mary? Sorry to ask.
Of course, Mary laughs. I went to school locally, always dreamed of the city, oh Anne
Whats the matter, Mary? Move there, Anne says simply.
And Anne, if I could, Id teach Evelyn Mary murmurs.
The women continue their hushhush chatter. Mary returns home; her motherinlaw constantly nags, her husband looks at her like a wolf, and twice she gets a slap to the eye and nose for decorum. She runs to work, covering up bruises as if they arent there, while her thoughts drift elsewhere.
The next month she travels again to the meeting at Evelyns place.
The girl isnt studying; shes out chasing boys, just like my lazy bloodsucker, Lucy, wholl bring a husband into the house, they mutter. And Mary, shes found someone too, I keep showing her off, but she wont stay quietshell run off with that scoundrel, what a disgrace.
That day Tom, Evelyns brotherinlaw, beats Mary badly, scaring the old woman more for Toms sake than for Mary. She rushes to the local constable, bringing three sausages and a slab of bacon as a peace offering. She follows Tom around his wifes house, watching the drama unfold.
Mary finally gathers a few belongings, writes a statement, and quits without notice. Everyone is shocked; they let her go.
Evelyn jumps up, shouting, Mum, is that you?
Im tired, love, my strength is gone, my body is just a bruised mess, her mother replies, tears in her voice.
Oh, Mum, Evelyn cries.
Its all right, dear, Anne will help you, her mother says.
Mum, will you ever come back? Evelyn asks.
No, Mary says, clenching her lips. I wont, for your sake, so you can have a better life.
Mary finds work at a textile mill as an accountant, gets a room in the hall, and begins to blossom again. She and Evelyn stroll together in the evenings. Someone from the village sees them and tells Tom.
He arrives, angry, and says, Martha, Im coming for you.
I wont go with you, she says, Ive had enough. Tom snarls, hisses, but Martha is no longer fearful; shes changed.
Dont be foolish, Mary, youve strayed, but Ill forgive you, Tom warns.
Leave, Tom, Ill call the police, Mary says.
The police? On my own husband? Tom asks.
We were duped a month ago, Mary answers. Didnt you get the letter?
No, Tom stammers.
Then, Tom, sorry, she says. I love you, but youre a wolf that loved a sheep, and now youre causing trouble.
Your fault, Tom growls.
Go away
Wont you come back? Mary asks.
No, Tom says. Youll regret it.
Go, she says. Ill leave, but dont expect me to return, Martha, understand?
He sobs. Come back, MumMother cant cope any longer, were at our wits end
No, she shakes her head. I wont be back. Youve drunk all my blood, you orphaned a girl with a living father, why did you let Mom suffer?
Forgive me, Martha, things will be different now, come back
No, Tom, go. Ill live out my old age like a proper lady.
Tom storms home like a thundercloud, shouts at his mother, buys a bottle of gin and drinks.
Mum?
What is it, Tom?
Did a letter with my seal ever come?
His eyes dart, his lips bite, his hands fidget
Aye, Mum I dont know. There was something
Tom spends a week drinking, then brings home Kate Yates, a young woman hes been seeing. His mother knows but pretends ignorance. Kate quickly orders the household aroundshes no gentle Mary.
Grandmother Margaret fears showing her face in the kitchen. Then Lily, the pretty granddaughter, appears. Misfortune follows Lily; a scoundrel tricks her, almost killing her, dragging her away to hide her sins. Mary is blamed for all the trouble, as if shed summoned Toms mischief. Kate, the new mistress, runs the house, and Tom bends to her will.
Everyone says Mary lives in the city now, a misshapen woman whos taken a lover, and they snicker about the scandal. Some think Marys marriage is over. Lily, the lovely granddaughter, has no luck; she leaves a boy named Nate and heads to the city, hoping to find her own happiness.
Mary, the old snake, is blamed for everything. Kate, the schemer, runs the household, pulling Tom under her thumb. Mary can only wish everyone would visit her, perhaps the town elder would send a message, and she might finally be shown some respect.
Lily, the granddaughter, is also shunned; she isnt even invited to the wedding. The families have become city folk, far removed from their roots. Even the mother swapped her proper life for a flirt, but Mary, however rough, still holds some dignity. Nadine, the aunt, is good, but shes too busy to take anyone in. Perhaps someone will travel to London, see Mary, and bring her a notemaybe Mary will finally feel some kindness.
The whole village knows Kate, the schemer, who rose from nowhere, pulling everything to herself, a true villain. Mary, once a capable woman, baked bread, made pies, ran the household. Now Kate, brought in by dark forces, cooks only for the pigs, and Marys grandchild, Evelyn, is left wondering where the kindness went.
Tom boasts a greatgrandchild is on the way, just to have a glimpse. The family dog, Buster, barks loudly, as if demanding attention. Ah, Mary, dear granddaughter Evelynvisit us, wipe away the old womans tears that flow down her weathered face, and understand why shes been so gentle all her life.
