‘Young ladies should never be famished. They keep their appetites to themselves,’ Adele admonished.
Norah was saved from a reply by Elsie’s arrival. ‘Dinner is served. Would you like to come through?’ she announced formally, as she'd been instructed by her new mistress.
Silently, they followed Elsie into the dining room and took their places at the beautifully laid table. The white linen tablecloth was covered by an impressive array of shining silverware and sparkling glassware. Although Adele did not approve of wine, or alcohol of any type for that matter, and a jug of water was all that was allowed, she insisted that three different wine glasses were displayed at every evening meal.
After the grace was said and, as Elsie served the roast lamb and vegetables, Adele chattered about her day. She'd been busily dispensing largesse to the poor of the village and liked to talk at length about how grateful everyone had been and how greatly she was admired. Today she'd visited Jack Fowler who had been unable to work since he'd fallen from a horse and broken his back. His wife Agnes had struggled to make ends meet and relied heavily on charity to feed her four young children.
‘Poor little mites. They were glad to see me, I can tell you. First I instructed them from the bible so they knew how to be properly grateful and then we opened the basket. I have to say Mrs Morris had outdone herself. There was some freshly baked bread, raspberry jam, fruit cake, biscuits and some apple jelly. It made me feel quite peckish myself but, of course, I declined when I was offered some. Mrs Fowler called me a saint but I told her I was just doing the Lord’s work. Apparently, none of the other ladies of the village do as much as I for the poor, not even Mrs Rogers. You would think, being the vicar’s wife, she would make more of an effort. I have to say the people of Great Chalkham are very glad you married me, I can tell you.’ This last remark was directed smugly at George who had been concentrating on his food more than his wife.
Norah, concerned that her father seemed very withdrawn and troubled, laid a hand on his arm. ‘Is everything alright, Daddy? she asked. ‘You look as if you’re worrying about something.’
George laid down his knife and fork and looked round at the three faces staring at him. ‘I might as well tell you,’ he said harshly. ‘Corn prices are down again and today I’ve had to lay off three men. I hated to do it but I’ve got no choice. We haven’t the money to pay their wages. This also means that we have to tighten our belts or we too will be in need of charity.’
‘Oh no. Poor you. That must have been terrible!’ Norah exclaimed. ‘Er…who did you lay off?’ Her thoughts had immediately rushed to Arthur who had become a close friend over the past four years.
‘Three chaps who should have long retired but haven’t been able to afford to- Jack Nobbs, George Darkins and Arnold Crabtree,’ George answered. ‘Poor sods. They might not be the only ones to go either, if prices at the Corn Exchange continue to fall.’
‘Language please George!’ scolded Adele, frowning at her husband and then brightening as a thought occurred to her. ‘Obviously, this means my work will be even more important. I’ll speak to Mrs Morris about organising some food for me to take round to them all tomorrow.’
George sighed. ‘Adele, I admire your concern for the poor but I don’t think you understand the seriousness of the situation. We can’t afford to keep feeding the village like this. And we can’t afford to keep buying new dresses.’ He looked pointedly across at Hope. ‘We need to make some adjustments so that we don’t go under ourselves.’
‘My goodness, George. You’re making it sound as if we’re one step away from destitution!’ Adele exclaimed shrilly. ‘I’m quite sure things are not as bad as all that. You’re all doom and gloom at the moment. In fact, you’re quite scaring me!’
George sighed heavily. ‘I’m just saying that farming is not at all profitable at the moment. In fact, it hasn’t been since the corn price guarantees ended in 1921. Lots of farmland has already been sold up around here and I don’t want that to happen to us. The situation is serious, Adele, but I’m sure we’ll get through it. We just need to be more prudent, that’s all. I’m sorry if I scared you.’
‘Well, I’m sure we can all give up something to help, can’t we girls?’ Adele replied nobly, ‘But George, I must insist on helping the poor where I can. They rely on me for so much, you see. I have to give them the spiritual guidance they don’t receive from that idle vicar and his wife and they all look up to me. I couldn’t possibly let them down.’ She gave him her most sanctimonious smile.
George sighed again. ‘I’m sure you’re very good, Adele, and I wouldn’t want to deprive the poor of anything but perhaps more spiritual than actual sustenance would be helpful. Just for a while’
Adele nodded sympathetically. ‘I understand, George. I’ll do what I can and so will Hope.’
At her mother’s prompting, Hope nodded. ‘I suppose I could manage without a new dress for my birthday next week,’ she said with a martyred air.
‘Oh darling, I don’t think things are so bad that you can’t have a new frock … not when it’s your fifteenth birthday!’ Adele interrupted quickly. ‘We’ll think of something else … but you’re such a good girl for offering.’ She patted her daughter’s hand with approval before turning her attentions to her stepdaughter. ‘Now, what about you, Norah? What are you going to give up? It’s not just Hope and I who have to make sacrifices you know. I know …’ She smiled in triumph. ‘You could give up
