Nest of Sorrows by Ruth Hamilton Page B

but have you got homework in. common? Monday’s maths and English, isn’t it?’
    She nodded just once.
    ‘Then bring your work here and show it me.’
    Katherine scurried through to the kitchen and dug around in her satchel. ‘Did you tell on me? Did you?’ she whispered to Judith.
    ‘No. But I will if it carries on. My whole class is laughing at me because my ugly little sister can get a boy and I can’t.’
    ‘I’m not ugly! I’m not!’ hissed the smaller girl.
    ‘Huh. Look in the mirror, will you?’
    Katherine stared at the twelve-year-old beauty before her, all luscious dark curls, violet eyes and skin like cream. She knew what she herself looked like; she didn’t have to go poking about in front of a mirror. Thin red hair, freckles, greenish-yellowish eyes, no flesh on her face. Life was grossly unfair. ‘Sometimes, I don’t like you, Judith Murray.’
    ‘Ditto.’
    Katherine placed her work on her father’s knee. ‘Oh, I see.’ It was obvious that his sails had deflated. ‘When did you do it?’
    ‘Tea time.’
    ‘Is it right? Have you got all the answers?’
    ‘Yes.’
    He thrust the books back at her. ‘Then why didn’t you stop in and study like your sister does? If you studied, you could go to university and get a degree. You don’t need boys.’
    Katherine tilted her chin. ‘You needed them though, didn’t you?’
    Rachel’s hand slowed in its polishing of a candlestick. ‘Shut up,’ she growled.
    ‘Well, it’s true! He never bothered with me till he saw me tied to a lamp-post! He never cared till he found out I was as brave as any lad!’ Her temper teetered on the edge now, and Rachel grabbed her daughter’s arm tightly, but still the girl continued. ‘I used to listen when you were arguing. All about me not being a boy and Mam not having any more children. I thought things were all right between us now, but they’re not, are they? Oh, no, you’re going to pick on me all the while. Miss Goody Two-Shoes in there can’t do any wrong, can she? Well, I’m not having you telling me what to do all the while. And I shan’t go to university, I shan’t. So there!’ She stamped her foot against the rug. ‘Just because you never went, you force me. It’s all right for Judith, she’s like a big soft dog, she does as she’s told. But I remember things. I’ll always remember things!’
    Peter Murray struggled to his feet and dealt to Katherine’s cheek a blow that sent both mother and daughter reeling, so fierce had Rachel’s restraining hold become. But she didn’t hold on for long, because the girl ripped herself away, picked up the large brass plaque and clouted her father full in the face with it. ‘Don’t you hit me,’ she snarled as the man put a hand to his nose. ‘Don’t you ever, ever again hit me. You’re always hitting me when Mam’s out. Never Judith. Always me!’
    With this, she ran from the house, leaving her sobbing mother lying on the floor and her white-faced sister standing in the kitchen doorway.
    Rachel picked herself up and stood shaking in the centre of the room, her hand straying along the table’s edge as if seeking support. ‘You’ve done it now, Peter,’ she said, her voice quivering with tears. ‘She’ll fetch somebody, you mark my words. I’ve known ever since I had her that she’d take nowt lying down. Judith, get up to your room. Go on. Don’t stand there as if you’re practising to be a tailor’s dummy!’
    Judith turned and fled from the unpalatable scene.
    ‘The little bitch!’ With the back of his hand, he wiped a drop of blood from his upper lip. ‘Just wait till she gets in.’
    Rachel composed herself, straining to listen as Judith’s footsteps reached the upper storey. ‘Right,’ she said. ‘You’ve been hitting her again. While I’m out, you hit her. You’re always going on at her, aren’t you?’
    ‘She gets what she deserves,’ he snarled. ‘I only thump her for clarting about when she should be