A Dinner Of Herbs (82 page)

And how he

got me from that shed up to the cottage will always remain a mystery, because the last I remember was

him dragging me towards that snow-covered bank that looked as high as all the hills in Alston put

together. So no matter what I think of him otherwise, I owe him something, and the only way I can repay

it is by seeing that he’s attended to now. So’ he drew in a long shuddering breath before ending, ‘bring

him here.”

“Here?” The word was small, and he turned on Mary Ellen, saying quietly, “You’re not

deaf, lass.

That’s what I said, here.”

“Well, if you say so, Mr. Roystan.” There was a note of relief in Charles’s tone, and he turned and

looked at John, and John said, “Aye, well let’s get going, the quicker the better.”

As they hurried from the room, Kate went to follow them, but stopped for a moment and

looked back

towards the bed. She did not smile at the man lying there, but their glances met and held for a moment;

then she was running across the landing and down the stairs, and as she passed through the kitchen, she

cried to Annie, “We’re bringing Ben here.”

And Annie replied calmly, “Good. Good, lass. Could be the beginning of the end.”

It wasn’t until sometime later, when she rushed through the cold house and into the

sitting-room and saw

the huddled still figure lying on the couch in the icy cold room that Annie’s words struck her as ominous,

“Could be the beginning of the end’.

It was thirty-six hours since they carried Ben upstairs and placed him in Kate’s bed, and for most of the

time Kate had remained by his side.

It was she who, with the help of Annie, had taken off his clothes and bathed his burning body. It was

she who constantly mopped the sweat from his running face, and quite often quietened

his gabbling with

her voice. Between times he would recognize her and his dried throat would croak her

name and his

cracked lips move in an effort to say more, but always the heaving of his chest cut off his words, and she

would stroke his face saying, “Tis all right, my love, ‘tis all right. I’m here. I shan’t leave you. Never,

never.”

The doctor had made the hazardous journey again today, and it was hazardous for the

slushed snow had

now turned to ice and the roads were more treacherous than ever. He came out of the

bedroom and

stood on the landing looking at Mary Ellen, and when he made no immediate comment

on his second

patient she said, “What d’you think, doctor?” As an answer to this, he moved his head in a small

despairing movement, then said, “I don’t know ... at least I do, but I don’t want to voice it. The infection

is congesting his chest. Yesterday his heart beat was strong, but today it has changed. The next

twenty—four hours should give us the answer, but’—he drew in a long breath “ I’m sorry to say it’s out

of my hands now. I can’t hold out much hope. In such circumstances I could say, he has youth on his

side, but that would be a platitude now. I . I think you must prepare Kate. “

“Oh, dear God!” When she hung her head he put his hand on her shoulder, patting it and saying, “She’s

having a bad deal all round, that girl. Well, I can do nothing mor< at the moment. I’ll be over first thing

in the morning, thais if it is at all possible.

It just wants to snow again on top o:

this ice and we’re really in for it. Now don’t worry, I’ll set myself out. The girls will have a drink waiting

for me. “

She stood still watching him walking down the landing to the stairs and not until he had disappeared from

her view did she move, and then slowly towards her owr bedroom. Once inside, she

walked as slowly

up to the bee and, dropping down onto the seat beside it, she looked a Hal, and he at her, and when he

opened with his usua word, “Well?” she answered with a break in her voice, “He ... he

says there’s not

much hope.”

‘ Go on. “ He went to hitch himself away from her, crying now. That can’t be. He’s

young and strong.

I know that he must oe as strong as a horse.”

“Well, he must have spent his strength because doctoi says he can do no more, it’s touch and go within

the nex twenty-four hours. Oh, Hal, what will she do?”

He turned his head from her and stared down the bed to the bump of wire that caged his foot. He was

the one that should be dying. He was twice the fellow’s age, and had ar infection of the chest that had

put paid to many a strongei man than himself. Aye, he was the one that should b< going.

And it would

have happened if that fellow hadn’ seen to him.

“God Almighty!” He groaned the words alouc and then turned his head slowly and

looked at Mary

Ellen And what she next said brought his teeth dragging over hi;

lower lip.

“I know one thing,” she said, ‘that if she lose;

him, we’ll lose her . you’ll lose her, for she’ll never sta here. I don’t know what she’ll do, but she’ll go.

I know v in me heart she’ll go. And anyway, if he was by som( miracle to get better,

there’s still you and

your manic that’s bent on keeping them apart. She’s got that in her mind, and he must

have an’ all,

because as you’ve drummed into both of them, you’re not the kind of man to change his

mind. Are

you? “

“Mary Ellen’—his voice was low and sad sounding ‘you’ve never hit below the belt

before, don’t start

now. I know what I am without you puttin’ it in writin’.”

When he turned his head right round onto his other shoulder, she swiftly put her hand

onto his where his

fingers were scratching at the eiderdown and she said, “I’m sorry, Hal. I’m sorry. But as I see it, either

way she has little to hope for.”

There remained a long silence between them; then, with his head still turned from her, he said, “Well, if

it’s any news to you, I know when I’m beat. So if hope in that direction will be of any help, you can pass

it on to her.”

“Oh, Hal.” She lifted his hand and pressed it against her cheek, but he did not turn his head towards

her, for she knew that he couldn’t bear even her to witness his weakness.

She left him quickly now and, crossing the landing, she quietly entered Kate’s room.

Going to the other

side of the single bed she saw that Ben was conscious and she bent over him, and he

looked at her but

could not speak, and now slowly and quietly she said, “You’ve got to get better, Ben.

D’you hear me?

You’ve got to get better. Hal sent you a message. He says, you saved his life, and he’s got to repay

you, so don’t go and do the dirty on him. And he knows the only way he can repay you is to be willing

to let Kate go to you. And he said to tell you that. And also-’ Her imagination taking over, she added, “

You can be married as soon as he can put his foot to the ground and walk to your

wedding. Now d’you

hear me? “

The dark sunken eyes showed her no sign that he had heard her. But Kate certainly had, and apparently

the message had on her the opposite effect from that in tended, for now, getting to her feet, she motioned

her mother from the bed and outside onto the landing, and there she almost hissed at her,

“Well! you

take a message back to Dad and tell him he’s too late, about a week too late. I know what the doctor

said.

He told me. “

“Now look you here, Kate.” Mary Ellen was gripping her daughter’s arms.

“Where there’s life there’s hope, and where there’s dismay there’s death. And you go

back in there with

your thoughts set on him going, and by God! he’ll do just that. As I said, where there’s life there’s hope.

Will him to keep alive. Look as if you are over the moon at the turn of events. And

believe me, it is a

turn in events, ‘cos never did I expect to hear my man say what he said to me a few

minutes gone. It

was as if he was broken in spirit.

Now, you get yourself back in that room there, girl, and tell that man of yours he’s going to come

through. Push it out of your head that he’s not. Just keep telling him that he’s got to.

Come the night will

be the testing time. But you’ve got till then to work on him. “ Her voice softening, she now said, “ I

know you’re worn out, lass, but get him over the next twelve hours or so and, pray God, there’ll be a

turn for the better. Go on now. “ She pushed her gently back towards the door.

Kate went slowly back into the room; her face was still set, even grim. When she reached the bed she

placed her lips against the side of his dry and panting mouth and, her voice trembling, she said, Tis going

to be all right. It . It’s right what Mam said. “Then looking into his eyes, she asked, “ Do you

understand me, Ben? Do you hear what I’m saying? Dad is for us. We can be married,

and | . and

from this house. Only you . you’ve got to get , well. Do you hear me, Ben? You . you’ve got to get |

well. You’ve got to fight. You must, Ben. “

When he coughed and brought up some phlegm, she wiped it from his mouth, then

looked aghast at the

streak of blood running through it.

The door opened and Florrie entered carrying a tray. And Kate, going quickly to her, took it from her,

saying, Tell Mam I want her. “

A few minutes later when Mary Ellen entered the room, Kate showed her the piece of

linen, and Mary

Ellen, looking at it, paused a long moment before she said, “Oh, that’s nothing. That

comes through the

straining from coughing. Your dad’s always bringing up streaks

of blood, has for years. That’s nothing. “

“You sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Now don’t be silly. Drink up that hot milk, then we’ll wash him down

again and get him

ready for the night, because it could be a long one.”

It was two o’clock in the morning. The room was hot and quiet, except for Ben’s

laboured breathing.

Gabriel was asleep in an easy chair to the side of the fireplace. Kate, weary and hardly able to keep her

eyes open, had just replenished the four candlesticks which she placed two on the

dressing-table and two

on the mantelpiece, and she was about to take her seat once again by the bed when Ben

flung his arm

wide and, bringing his shoulders from the pillow, coughed up some phlegm, then cried

out in a clearer

tone than he had used before, “Kate! Kate!”

“I’m here, darling. I’m here.” She put her arms about him in an endeavour to press him backwards, but

when he began to struggle with her, she turned her head and cried, “Gabriel! Gabriel! “

And Gabriel,

coming out of sleep, ran to the other side of the bed and, gripping Ben’s arms, he said,

“There you are.

There you are, old fellow. Lie down. Lie down.”

Slowly they eased him back on to the pillow, but he still thrashed, and when his breathing became

painfully fast and each breath sounded like a gasp, she said quickly to Gabriel, “Go and bring Mam.”

When Mary Ellen came hurrying into the room, pulling a gown around her, she merely

glanced at Ben

before she said, “This is it. Bring the dish and towels.”

For the next half-hour they alternately sponged Ben’s face and neck and hands, and tried to stop him

rising from the bed, and it seemed to them that he had been imbued with a last fatal bout of strength.

It was towards three o’clock when he became limp in their hands and lay still. And Kate let out a cry,

“Oh, no! Oh, no! Ben! Don’t go.

Please! Please, don’t go. Don’t leave me, Ben. Don’t leave me. “

“There, there, lass, there. He’s all right, he’s all right. Look, he’s still breathing. Give over.”

“Don’t be silly, Kate.” Gabriel was pulling her from the bed now.

“Look, it’s as if he was asleep. Look, his chest’s still moving. Stop it! Stop it!”

Stretching her head towards the bed, Kate saw only the closed lids and the long white

face, and she

wondered why Gabriel was telling her to stop it. Of a sudden she was shivering from

head to foot, her

teeth chattered and she looked at her mother and asked pitifully, “Is he? Is he?”

“He’s all right, lass. It’sover. He’s passed it. “ The words seemed to convey that he was gone, and

she pulled herself from Gabriel’s arms and went to the bed, crying, “Ben! Ben!” Then

when Ben slowly

raised his lids and as slowly closed them again, she turned and staggered to the chair and, dropping into

it, she began to cry. One hand across her eyes, the other straining across her open mouth, she

endeavoured to dull the sound of her sobbing, and when Gabriel remonstrated with her,

saying, “Quiet,

Kate, you’ll wake him,” Mary Ellen turned to him, saying, Tis all right. Let her be.

“Twill do her good. They’ll both sleep after this. Now go and wake our Maggie, she’ll

stay with me, it

will be a kind of penance for her, because this one here is dropping on her feet.” She now drew Kate’s

head towards her, saying, “There, there, lass, the travail is over. Pray God He’ll show us some peace

from now on.”

Ben’s recovery was slow. It was a full fortnight before he was able to sit up in the bed.

That he had

neared death, he knew only too well. He could recall the moment when it almost touched him. It had

seemed to keep its distance for days, and had actually backed away once when a voice

had come to

him, saying that he had leave to marry Kate, that the stubborn bull-headed man had given his consent.