THE DEPRIVED... Chapter 2...Part 22.

A continuation of my book.

Hurrying through the streets, Mary stopped at the window of Old Ma Kelly’s shop and peering inside she saw the proprietor tidying up and tapped on the window. Old Ma Kelly’s round red face peered back at her through the glass, studying her till recognition lit up her smile and she opened the window.
“Lord’s sake, dearie. What a start you gave me. You always wait till the morning streaks the night before you turn up like a lost soul. Come on, dearie, give me your mug.” she said.
Mary untied the mug from her waist and handed it through the window.
“Here you are, dearie.” said Old Ma Kelly, having filled the mug with hot gruel and handed it back in one hand while the other hand demanded a coin.
Thanking her, Mary paid for the drink and took the mug before hurrying on as the window closed behind her. There was no sound from behind the closed door  of the ground floor hallway and Mary crept past.
“Beth!”
Beth climbed out from under the bed and ran to the door, unbolting it to allow Mary to enter.
“Look what I’ve got!” exclaimed Mary as she brought out the parcel of roasted meat and opened it.
Sam had also risen from under the bed and the two children sniffed hungrily at the meat and roasted potatoes.
“Quick, both of you. Get onto the bed and we’ll eat like kings and queens of fancy. Have you ever seen such a feast as this?”
The three of them sat on the bed with the paper spread out and they ate hungrily between sips of gruel, not talking as they filled starving bellies.

 

The morning light caught Mary off guard, a strong light which shone through the broken window, causing her to blink her eyes as she sat up. Beth and Sam lay sound asleep and Mary slipped out of bed, shivering as the cold seemed to creep in under the blanket wrapped round her. Running to the window she leaned out as far as she dare and began to cough, hawking up phlegm and spitting it out onto the cobbles below. It was as she gagged and tried hard to control her breathing that the hammering on the door caused her to pull herself back into the room, staring round wildly as if she sought to escape from the noise.
“I know you’re in there! I saw you leaning out the window. I want my rent!”
Quickly Mary hitched up her skirt and drew out her purse to take out the shilling piece. Drawing back the bolt, Mary stepped out of the door, holding it shut as she confronted the landlord.
“Here.” she said fiercely. “Here’s your rent money.
The landlord took the money, holding it out in his hand and staring at it.
“Where did you get this from, you thieving w***e?” he roared. “You’ve got a fancy-man hidden in there, aint you. That aint allowed! My rooms are all to a level in law and I won’t have any Fancy-Dan in to have larks with you?”
Lunging forward, Silas Jenson pulled Mary roughly out of the way and kicked the door inwards, smashing it against the inner wall as he stopped short to stare at Beth and Sam who had woken to the shouting and sat up in the bed with wide frightened eyes.
“Brats!” shouted Silas Jenson. “You’ve got two brats hidden in here! That’s against me rules and well you know it!”
Beth had risen from the bed, standing next to her mother.
“Leave us alone!” she shouted.
The landlord looked at Beth, first angrily then gauging her shape his eyes became lecherous and smiled, his eyes now half-closed with lust.
“I’ll give you your money back for half an hour of her time.” he said loudly as he turned to face Mary. “You take the boy out for a walk and I’ll be a fine gent with the young sweetie, that I will.”
He began to walk towards Beth, his hand still holding the money out. Beth shrank back against the wall. Sam suddenly sprung from the bed with the whittling knife in his hand. Holding it out in front of him he rushed at the landlord with wild eyes.
“If you touch her I will stick you! In God’s truth I will stick you!” screamed Sam.
Silas Jenson launched out a hand which caught Sam full in the face which sent him crashing to the floor.
“Come here!” he roared at Beth, starting to move towards her.
With a cry of rage Mary ran at him, the whole force of her body behind her which caught the landlord off guard so that he tumbled back out through the open door, to disappear over the broken handrail.
Fear froze all in the room till the loud thud of the landlord’s body hit the bottom. There was silence. There was no call for help. Mary broke the spell, falling down in a bout of coughing and gasping for breath. Beth ran to her side to hold her as the tears streamed down her face.
“He’s not moving!”
Sam had run down the stairs and shouted back as he stared at the body of Silas Jenson.
“I didn’t mean to do that.” breathed Mary.
Beth had risen and made her way halfway down the stairs to lean over and whisper loudly to Sam.
“Are you sure?” she whispered.
“Come and see for yourself.” Sam whispered back.
“What shall we do Mammy?”
Beth had returned to her mother’s side and now helped her up.
“We have to get away.”
Sam had run back up the stairs and now began to get
dressed.