Page 225 of The Armor of Light

‘Fat chance. They’ve probably arrested all the wrong men. They won’t care. They’ll hang some and transport others to Australia. They just want workers to be too scared to protest.’

‘And if there’s machine-breaking here in Kingsbridge, who do you think would be the first man to be arrested?’ She buttered a slice of bread and handed it to him.

Jarge did not answer her question. Instead he said: ‘You know who sold Mose his damned steam looms, don’t you? Your son, that’s who.’

‘Kit is yours, too, and has been for seventeen years.’

‘My stepson.’

‘Aye, and for a stepfather you’ve done bloody well out of him, haven’t you? A decent place to live and a good dinner every Sunday, all at his expense.’

‘I don’t want charity. I want a good dinner at my own expense. A man wants to work and earn and pay for things himself.’

‘I know,’ said Sal, softening her tone. She did know. Money was no longer her number one problem, with Kit doing so well and being so generous. It was Jarge’s pride. All men were proud, but he was more so than most. ‘Idleness is hard on a good man. The wastrels love it, but someone like you chafes. Just don’t let that be your downfall.’

They ate in silence for a while, then Sal washed up. It was ringing practice tonight. Sal had got into the habit of accompanying Jarge. In the old days she had gone to the Bell with Joanie to wait for the ringers, but since Joanie had been transported she had not liked to go to the tavern on her own.

They walked down the lamplit Main Street to the cathedral. As they crossed the square they passed Jarge’s friend Jack Camp, dressed in an old coat with holes in it. He said: ‘All right, Jarge?’

‘All is well,’ said Jarge. ‘Ringing practice now.’

‘Maybe see you later, then.’

‘Aye.’

As they approached the cathedral Sal said: ‘Jack seems very fond of you.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘He’s spent all day in the tavern with you and now he wants to see you this evening.’

Jarge grinned. ‘I can’t help it if I’m lovable.’

That made Sal laugh.

The north door to the church was unlocked, indicating that Spade was already inside. They climbed the spiral stairs to the rope room, where the ringers were taking off their coats and rolling up their sleeves. Sal sat up against the wall, out of the way. She enjoyed the music of the bells but more than that, she liked the back-and-forth banter of the men, which was sometimes clever and always funny.

Spade called them to order and they began to warm up with a familiar change. Then they moved on to special-occasion changes, for weddings and christenings. Sal’s mind wandered as she listened.

As always, she worried about her loved ones. Keeping Jarge out of trouble had been her life’s work. It was good to stand up for your rights, but you had to do it the right way, more in sorrow than in anger. Jarge leaped straight into a quarrel.

Kit was twenty-seven and still single. As far as she knew he hadnever had a girlfriend – he had certainly never brought one home. She was pretty sure she knew why. People would say he was ‘not the marrying kind’, which was a polite expression. She did not mind, but she would be disappointed not to have grandchildren.

Kit had always been good with machines, and the business was prospering, but Roger was not the ideal type to have as a partner. A gambler was never really reliable.

Her niece, Sue, caused her the least concern. She was married and seemed happy. She had two daughters, so at least Sal had two grand-nieces.

Her reverie was interrupted by Jarge. ‘I’ve got to step outside – call of nature. You know this next piece, Sal, can you take my place?’

‘Glad to.’ She had done this often over the years, usually when a ringer cancelled at the last minute. She was plenty strong enough, and her timing was good.

She stood by Jarge’s dangling rope as he went down the stone staircase. She was a bit surprised at his exit – he was not usually subject to sudden calls of nature. Maybe he had eaten something bad – not her potato soup, she felt sure, but perhaps a dish he had got at the Bell.

She put the thought out of her mind and concentrated on Spade’s instructions. Time passed quickly and she was surprised when the rehearsal came to an end. Jarge had not returned. She hoped he was not ill. Spade gave her Jarge’s shilling payment, and she said she would pass it on.

They all went across the square to the Bell and met Jarge at the door. ‘Are you sick?’ Sal asked him anxiously.

‘No.’