Flowers on the Mersey by June Francis

the Fenians were sort of forerunners of the Irish Republican Brotherhood?’ Rebekah nodded. ‘They caught the men, and thank God the town hall is still here. But Father thought the telling might prevent me wanting to marry your papa. He had a habit of tarring all the Irish with the same brush.’
    Rebekah said nothing, but she was thinking of what her father had said about Daniel. By the time they came in sight of the Graeco-Roman style St George’s Hall, built during Victoria’s reign, her mother was tiring so they caught a tram in Lime Street. Rebekah asked about places and roads, some of which her mother did not know, although she pointed out the Royal Hippodrome in West Derby Road. ‘When I was about twelve, my father’s sister came down from Bolton. She took me to a varietyshow. It was a revelation. I enjoyed the acts and went again with a friend when I was older, but I never told Papa or Esther. Aunt Maggie wasn’t a bit like other Quakers I knew. She had a yen for the stage, and soon after left the Society of Friends and went to London. The only time Papa mentioned her again was years later when he said I was as flighty as her. I remember I replied that I looked upon that as a compliment. That she was the best in the family.’ Her eyes gleamed. ‘He nearly hit me. Sad. I would have liked to have seen her again.’
    Rebekah smiled. Liverpool seemed to be bringing out a different side to her mother and she was glad to see it.
    They descended from the tram a couple of stops later and walked up a road of red-brick houses with long front gardens. Rebekah had visualised something grander because her father had told her that Aunt Esther had come into the family fortune and it had been quite substantial. They stopped at a house with a green front door with a black wrought iron knocker on it.
    Footsteps hurried in response to their knock and the door opened to reveal Aunt Esther. She was small and round, with fluffy yellow-white hair. The three of them stared at each other then the two sisters flung their arms around each other.
    ‘Oh, Sarah,’ cried Esther, tears in her eyes as she crushed her against her black serge bosom. ‘It’s sogood to see thee. If I’d know that thou were definitely arriving today, I would have come to meet thee.’
    ‘It doesn’t matter. We’re here now.’ Sarah’s voice was unsteady as she disentangled herself from her sister’s arms and seized Rebekah’s hand. ‘This is Becky. I think she’s got a look of our side of the family, don’t you?’
    ‘Oh, yes! She’s got Mother’s eyes. Thou art very welcome, Rebekah.’
    ‘Thank you.’ She suffered her aunt’s embrace, then was pulled inside the house.
    ‘It’s been so long, Sarah,’ said her aunt. ‘I hope thee can stay for weeks and weeks. Hannah was saying something about America?’
    ‘Yes,’ Sarah sighed.
    Rebekah squeezed her hand. ‘It’s Papa’s idea, Aunt Esther.’
    Her mother nodded. ‘We’ve tried our best to dissuade him, but there’s no moving him. He’s adamant.’
    ‘Adam always was,’ said Esther, her lips compressing in an uncompromising line. ‘Hannah said that he left thee to fend for thyselves at the Pierhead. No doubt it’s his selfishness as well as the fighting that’s worn thy nerves down. Did Hannah give thee the Dr Cassell’s tablets I sent? I know plenty of people who swear by them, and I’ve taken them myself since Papa died.’
    Sarah said warmly, ‘I’ve taken the tablets, and I believe they have done me some good. It was kind of you – and to send Hannah too. She’s such a good worker. But please don’t speak of Adam in such a way.’
    ‘Thou still won’t have a word said against him,’ said Esther in resigned tones. ‘Such loyalty does thee credit, sister.’
    ‘A wife has to stand alongside her husband.’ Sarah smiled. ‘Try and get on with him, Esther. I know the pair of you could never see eye to eye in the past, but do try now. Papa tried to browbeat Adam