Rainbow's End (36 page)

‘Skivvy? Mammy, Maggie’s been more’n that to all of us. She brung the twins up, just about, an’ she’s been like a mammy to Ticky! And you can’t call names on Mrs McVeigh now the poor woman’s dead. She was poor, I grant you, because she had a
grosh
of kids; that’s enough to hold anyone back, so it is.’

‘Mrs McVeigh didn’t have no self-control, that was her trouble,’ Mrs Nolan said coldly. ‘D’you think it was magic that kept me family small? Well, it weren’t. It were because I was after havin’ self-control an’ common sense. And that’s two things, Liam, which seem to have passed you by – control and common sense.’

‘Oh, Mammy,’ Liam said, outraged at such self-deception. ‘It were bein’ widowed young, that’s what kept your family small. Self-control indeed!’

‘How
dare
you speak like that to your mammy?’ Mrs Nolan shouted. Twin flags of scarlet flew in her cheeks and her eyes seemed to burn through Liam with the strength of her scornful feelings. ‘You, who’ve no doubt lain wit’ a skivvy for your body’s pleasure, havin’ the cheek to come to me wit’ talk of love, an’ marryin’ . . . how dare you?’

‘If you mean what I think you mean you’re bloody well wrong!’ Liam yelled, jumping to his feet. His own face was hot with rage now and his eyes reflected the scorn he had seen in his mother’s glance. ‘Maggie’s a good girl, she’s not in the fambly way, we’re in love an’ we’re goin’ to get married. That’s what I said an’ that’s what I meant, no more, no less.’

‘Over my dead body,’ Mrs Nolan shrieked, jumping up as well. ‘You’ll not marry a pauper whiles I’m alive to prevent it.’

‘And just how d’you intend to prevent it?’ Liam roared. ‘I’m a man, Mammy, not a lad to be persuaded or pushed about by you! I’m marryin’ Maggie just as soon as we’ve enough saved.’

Mrs Nolan gave her son one last, furious glare, then walked swiftly towards the bedroom door. ‘Then she’s out of me house from this moment,’ she said. ‘What a serpent I’ve nurtured in me bosom . . . but not a moment longer shall she spread her poison amongst me fine sons, not a moment! I don’t care if she walks the streets or sleeps in a doorway, she’ll not stay under this roof.’

‘Mammy! Think what you’re doin’ before it’s too late,’ Liam shouted, amazed yet unbelieving. Surely his mother could not turn Maggie out, after all the girl had done for them? And what reason would she give neighbours, friends, when they asked? But his mother was clearly past reasoning with. She flew across the landing and pushed hard against the door of the small room which Maggie and Ticky still shared.

The door banged open and Maggie looked round, startled. Ticky, sitting on the bed whilst she washed his feet, did too. But his mother, Liam realised, was possessed by a fury so great that she could think of nothing else.

‘Out!’ she shrieked, pointing at Maggie. ‘Get out of my house, you little whore!’

‘Mammy, don’t you dare use language like that about Maggie,’ Liam shouted, scandalised. ‘She’s the best, most dacint . . . an’ we’ve done nothin’ like you t’ink, indeed we’ve not. Besides, what’ll the neighbours think to hear you talk so?’

‘Bugger the neighbours,’ his mother said tersely. ‘Did ye hear me, girl? Out of this house I say, this minute!’

‘What . . . d’you mean, Mrs Nolan?’ poor Maggie said, trying to pretend she had no idea what Liam’s mother was talking about. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘You! Schemin’, connivin’ behind me back . . . makin’ up to me fine son . . .’

‘Oh!’ Maggie said. ‘Oh, I
see
.’ She stood up and looked steadily at Mrs Nolan across the space which separated them. ‘Liam’s told you we truly want to marry. Oh dear, oh dear, I told him you’d not like it, so I did.’

‘Not
like
it? The boy’s a fool,’ Mrs Nolan said. ‘To marry
you
, a nobody, a pauper, when he’s a fine job an’ everythin’ goin’ for him! I won’t allow it, you shan’t ruin his life.’

‘Of course I shan’t,’ Maggie said soothingly. ‘Besides, it’ll be years before we can marry, Mrs Nolan. Shall you go an’ sit down now an’ I’ll put the kettle on, make you a nice cup of tea?’

‘You – will – get – out – of – this – house,’ Mrs Nolan said, separating her words and saying each one with great distinctness. ‘Out, out, OUT!’

‘You’ve no right . . .’ began Liam.

But his mother turned round so abruptly that she nearly knocked him over. ‘Mind your business, Liam,’ she said into his face. ‘This is between me an’ the girl here. You go an’ put the kettle on, like Maggie said.’

‘I’m not leavin’ here until you apologise to Maggie an’ say she may stay,’ Liam said, though he could see the futility of it even as the words passed his lips. ‘How can you behave so, Mammy, to someone who’s worked so hard for our family all these years? Now tell Maggie you didn’t mean a word of it and we can leave it a while and then have a quiet talk later.’

Maggie stood up, for she had been crouched down by Ticky’s feet all the while the argument raged. Liam saw that she was pale beneath the sun-glow, but he could also see that she was angry now, and in control, no longer either shocked or surprised. ‘Liam, take your Mammy into the kitchen . . . and Ticky, too, if you please. If I’m to leave I shall be busy for the next ten, fifteen minutes.’ She lifted Ticky off the bed and stood him down on the landing, where he clutched Liam’s leg, lips quivering, his gaze going from one face to the other.

‘Don’t you go packin’ anythin’ which don’t belong to you,’ Mrs Nolan said spitefully. ‘God knows you’ve little enough, it shouldn’t take you more than five minutes at most.’

‘If I’ve little, it’s because you’ve made sure I was so ill paid that I could never afford much,’ Maggie said steadily. ‘I’ll take me clothing, me blanket, me picture and me books.’

‘Your blanket?
Your
blanket? As I recall . . .’

‘I’m taking the blanket to wrap the rest of me stuff in,’ Maggie said. ‘I’ll bring it back if you like, but since I’ve slept wrapped up in it these past years, you’ll not fancy it, I’m sure. A lady such as yourself wouldn’t want to use a blanket which has been wrapped around a skivvy like me. I’ll give a knock on the kitchen door when I’m through.’ Maggie didn’t want to find herself accused of any theft other than that of stealing Liam’s affections, and that seemed hard enough, so it did. But she knew she would have to have the coat for when winter came, and her thick shoes too. Pride was all very well, but she had bought that coat and those shoes with her own money and she would need them later on.

‘I didn’t say . . .’ Mrs Nolan began aggressively – to find she was speaking to a closed door. ‘Why, the little . . . how dare she shut the door in me face in me own house! I’ll show her who’s mistress here, she’ll rue the day . . .’

But Liam had had enough. He caught his mother by the arm and literally dragged her, still mouthing off at the closed door, over to the kitchen. He shoved her into the room, then pushed Ticky in too and went and pulled the kettle over the fire. ‘Well, I hope you’re satisfied, for you wouldn’t get Maggie to stay now if you prayed on bended knee,’ he informed his still smouldering parent.

‘Liam, me dearest son,’ Mrs Nolan said. ‘’Tis for your sake I done it, surely you realise that? I can’t – – won’t – have you goin’ chasin’ after the skivvy who scrubs me floors when you could have your pick o’ women. Eh, I should have sent her packin’ years ago, years ago.’

‘Well, you’ve sent her packin’ now,’ Liam pointed out. ‘An’ I can’t stand here argufyin’ because I’ve a deal to do. I shan’t be able to clear me room completely now, because I’ve a great many t’ings to pack, unlike Maggie, but if I start at once at least she an’ me can leave together.’

‘You? Leave? Don’t be mad, boy, your life’s here . . . you can’t go chasin’ after that little slut . . .’

Liam left the kitchen, shutting the door hard behind him. He was still shocked and sickened by what had happened. How could his mother have behaved the way she had? And now, to expect him to remain in the house after Maggie had been driven forth! What did his mammy really think Maggie could do, friendless as she was? All her family dead or far away, denied a decent schooling because she had to look after the Nolan kids, with only her part-time work on the market stalls to stand her in good stead. If the tragedy of Dally Court had never happened then at least the girl would have had a roof to go to, a family to help her, but as it was, she had nothing. Nobody.

Except for me, Liam reminded himself. He had taken a leaf out of Maggie’s book and had spread his blanket out on the bed, and was filling it with clothing, shoes, books and other small possessions. The bigger things he would have to return for in a day or so . . . and now where would he go? No, he reminded himself, where shall
we
go? At least there would be two of them – and he had a steady job with a decent wage at the end of each week. They wouldn’t be able to afford much, but they should survive, just about. Liam tied his blanket corners with some difficulty and realised his bundle was so heavy that he would not be able to carry it far without the blanket simply tearing in two. Sighing, he untied everything, then remembered to go and open his bedroom door so he could see when Maggie emerged.

Presently, his mother came out of the kitchen and glanced across at him. When she saw she had his attention she went and knocked on Maggie’s door. ‘Maggie! I lost me temper,’ she called. ‘We’ll talk it over . . . come to some arrangement. I were wrong to try to send you off right now, wit’out givin’ you a chance to find somewhere else to lay your head.’

After a moment, the door opened. Maggie stood framed in the doorway, the blanket neatly knotted into a bundle which hung from one hand. She moved past Mrs Nolan. ‘It’s all right, I’m going,’ she said, as though she had not listened to a word the older woman said. ‘And I’ve taken nothing that wasn’t mine to take. Explain to the twins that I wouldn’t leave ’em in the lurch for all the money in the world; tell ’em I was packed off, please.’

‘Maggie, I’m tellin’ you you needn’t go,’ Mrs Nolan said urgently. ‘Put your bundle down, there’s a good girl, and let’s talk it over. I can’t countenance your marryin’ me son, but I were upset, an’ that made me act hasty . . .’

But Maggie simply walked past her and set off down the stairs. Liam grabbed his own ill-packed bundle and followed her whilst, behind them, Mrs Nolan started to have very convincing hysterics, as little Ticky screamed in sympathy and the neighbours stood at their doorways, mouths agape.

‘Maggie, I’m wit’ you,’ Liam said as they reached the lower hallway. ‘But are you sure you wouldn’t rather turn back, talk it out?’

Maggie looked up at him. Her eyes were wet but he could see she had made up her mind. ‘No more talkin’,’ she said. ‘Your mammy called me wicked t’ings, Liam. I’m not a bad girl as you well know an’ I won’t be treated like one, so I won’t. But you go back; she’s no real quarrel with yourself.’

‘Well, I’ve a quarrel wit’ her,’ Liam said, falling into step beside her as they crossed the yard and turned into Thomas Street. ‘But I don’t have much money right now, alanna – none, in fact. So what’ll we do? Where’ll we go?’

Before Maggie could answer, a figure darted across the street and accosted them. It was Kenny. ‘Oh Liam, it’s sorry I am I got you into trouble,’ he said. ‘I just didn’t t’ink. When Mammy said she’d told Maggie to be home by half-past the hour . . . I’m sorry, old feller, I never dreamed . . .’

‘It’s all right, Kenny. But you’re the feller in charge at home now,’ Liam said. ‘I won’t be goin’ back, not after what Mammy said to us. Take care of ’em.’

‘And tell the twins I had no choice but to go,’ Maggie put in, her voice thick with tears. ‘And don’t worry, Kenny. It would have happened sooner or later, when Mrs Nolan found out we were promised.’

‘Right,’ Kenny said. ‘But you’ll come back; we can’t manage without you an’ that’s the truth.’ He grinned at them both and disappeared into the courtyard.

Maggie took a deep breath and smiled up at Liam. ‘I’m goin’ along to Henry Street, to ask Mrs Collins if she knows of a cheap room where they’d let me stay a day or so free, until I’ve got a job,’ she said. ‘She’s been good to me, has Mrs Collins. What you do, Liam, is up to you. I’ll not have your mammy sayin’ I’ve stole you away from her and corrupted you, for that is what she’ll say, you know.’

‘You, corrupt me? I’m a man, alanna, you’re just a little girl,’ Liam said. ‘Well, you said she wouldn’t be pleased.’

This remark brought Maggie to a dead halt. She turned to him and this time her eyes were brimming with laughter. ‘Oh, Liam, if that isn’t the biggest understatement I ever did hear! Come on now, best foot forward if we’re to get a roof over our heads this night!’

The best of times come to an end, and Seamus and Garvan joined the rush to catch the last train home, getting a seat by the simple expedient of wriggling through the crowds to the front, then elbowing, kicking and scuffing their way aboard. Squeezed together, they sat with their eyes half shut, occasionally exchanging remarks in such low tones that no one else could possibly have overheard above the rattle and roar of the train, to say nothing of the conversation of fellow passengers. Indeed, Seamus thought, he wasn’t sure that he always heard Garvan with his ears; it was subtler than that, a message passed on in a tiny, low whisper which still carried, crystal clear, to a receptive mind.

‘That girl wit’ the red hair – have you ever seen a face so full of freckles?’

‘Are they freckles? There’s spots on her chin. Look at her mammy, then, if you want to see freckles!’

‘Be Jaysus, you’re right! Horrible, isn’t it now? They’ve blended together, and there’s lumps, an’ her nose is
black
wit’ freckles. I don’t t’ink I’ll marry when I’m a man grown.’

And then, later, more serious topics.

‘What’ll we tell Mammy when we get in?’

‘Oh, that we had a good time, that’s all she’ll want to hear.’

‘Nothin’ about the O’Farrells, then?’

‘Oh, we’ll say it was a good tea, if she asks.’