Digging wealth

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

'Oh, Lewis! Thank you!' 'But I don't want Ariah getting any foolish ideas about following in her aunt's footsteps."

Elianna rose and kissed him lightly on the cheek as she removed the empty dishes. 'She won't. And thank you again, Lewis. I'll write to Gina this evening.'

Ariah was speechless with delight, but only for a few min utes. Then a torrent of questions poured from her lips.

Elianna put her hands over her ears in mock dismay. 'If you don't stop this minute, Ariah, you shan't go!'

Ariah pulled a face and clamped a hand over her mouth in a comic gesture. "There, I'm quiet now,' she muttered through her fingers.

Elianna laughed. 'I want you to go and thank your Pa, properly.'

'He'll be cross if I interrupt him.' he won't, not if you do it the right way.'

'No, 'Which way?'

'Don't just walk in and say, "Thank you, Pa, for letting me go to London." Sometimes I think you're two people, Ariah, you behave so differently towards him and me.'

'He's not like you. He always makes me feel as though I've done something wrong when I haven't.'

"That's a terrible thing to say! Now, go and say thank you and give him a kiss.' Ariah looked startled. 'Kiss Pa?'

'Why not? I used to kiss my Pa if he went away, before I went to bed, or if he gave me a present.' 'I don't think Pa likes being kissed.'

'How do you know if you've never tried? Now go on!' She watched Ariah cross the hall and knock on the dining room door and she made a shooing gesture with her hand to ncourage the child to go in. She sighed, wondering if things d always been like this. There was no show of affection etween any of the Vannins in public, and not much in private either, although Ariah was an affectionate child. The doorbell rang and she called to Vi that she would

answer it. It was Elizabeth. 'How nice to see you, Elizabeth! We haven't seen you

for some weeks, is everything all right? How is Ernest?' 'We are fine, thank you. Is my father in?" 'Yes, he's in the dining room with Ariah. I'll tell them

you're here.' 'Now what's she been up to? Has she been sent home from school again?'

Elianna's expression hardened. 'It's half term and she hasn't been up to anything, quite the opposite!' She knocked on the dining room door and opened it. The sight that met her eyes was just what she had hoped for. Lewis had pushed his chair back and Ariah stood at his knee. Both heads were bent in mutual interest over something in the newspaper. Lewis's arm was around the child's shoulder.

Elianna smiled. Elizabeth's timing was perfect and by the look on her face Elianna could see that she was decidedly put out. She wondered if Elizabeth's manner towards her sister was prompted by jealousy.

'Ma, look, there's something about Aunt Gina in the paper!' Then Ariah saw Elizabeth and her smile faded. If your Pa has finished with the paper, why don't you take it and read it in the kitchen. I'm sure Vi will be interested. Elizabeth's come to visit and you won't be interested in "grown up" talk, as you call it.'

'Off you go, Ariah, and take the paper with you. But don't get it muddled up.' Lewis smiled, giving the child a gentle push. When she reached Elianna, Ariah stopped. 'Aunt Gina's

going to be famous. Will that make us famous, too, Ma?'

Elianna laughed. 'No it won't.' Ariah turned to her sister. 'Aunt Gina's going to be in a musical play called "Steamboat" in London and she's going to be famous and Ma and I are going to see her and we're going to stay in an hotel and we're having a box at the Royal Theatre!'

'The Theatre Royal,' Elianna corrected. Now off you

go, Miss Giddy-Gaddy!' Elizabeth said nothing but Elianna noticed the set of her chin. So that was it. She'd come for money!

'If you don't mind, I would like to speak to my Father alone.'

'I do mind, as it happens.'

They both looked at her. Lewis with speculation and

Elizabeth with amazement. 'What I have to say is private!'

'Your father is my husband!'

Lewis rose. So, the confrontation had come at last. Whatever you have to say can be said in front of Mary Kate, Elizabeth.'

'Really, Father! You don't honestly expect me to... to...

"To ask for pin money in front of me? Oh, come, Elizabeth, do you take me for a complete fool? I know the only reason you visit is for money to buy something that Ernest either can't or won't buy for you. What is it for this time?'

Elizabeth's cheeks flamed. 'How dare you!'

'No! How dare you, Elizabeth! You have a good hus band who provides for you as well as he can, it's about time learned to curb your extravagances. Your father you works too hard to have his money wasted!"

'Pa! Are you going to stand there and let her insult me like that!"

"Is it insulting to hear the truth?" he said quietly. Despite

her words, Elianna's voice had remained calm and,

unintentionally, he took his cue from her.

'Oh, this is intolerable! Insufferable! You are quite prepared to spend a small fortune on a jaunt to London for her and that precocious little wretch, just so she can see some second-rate show that her sister has probably got a 'bit' part in, and yet I can't even have a few pounds for ...

'Elizabeth, I suggest you leave before things are said hat are best left alone,' Lewis interrupted. It had always galled him that his elder daughter took it for granted that she only had to mention the fact that her dead mother would turn in her grave if she knew how he was treating her, denying her the little luxuries she loved, and that Molly had always given her, and that he would provide the required amount. Elianna was right and he should have put his foot down long ago, he knew that, it was emotional blackmail. But he had always given in. Mainly through the desire for peace but also because at the back of his mind he had the uneasy feeling that Molly would reproach him. But Elianna had changed all that and made him see how foolish and superstitious he'd been.