Wait For the Dawn by Jess Foley

Mr and Mrs Lucas, and I’ve got the highest respect for them. Have they ever abused you? They never have, have they?’
    ‘Well, no, but –’
    ‘No, and they’re not likely to. Mr Lucas is a much respected man in the law, and his wife is a good woman, I’ve got no doubt.’
    ‘But, Father –’ Ryllis’s face was wet with her tears.
    ‘Enough!’ he cut in. ‘Why can’t you be more like your sister? You don’t hear her complaining about every little thing, but you, you’re never satisfied. I found you a very suitable position, but you’ve refused to settle into it or even make any attempt to be happy.’ He slapped the palm of his hand down on the table. ‘I don’t want to hear any more.And as for this –’ He picked up the newspaper, folded it once and tore it across and across, then tossed the pieces down on to the table. ‘That’s what I think of that. Now, young lady, I suggest that you go upstairs to your room and try to get some sense into your head.’ He waved a hand. ‘Go on. I’m sick of the sight of you. I’ve got to go out in a few minutes, and I don’t want to see your ungrateful face again before I go.’
    Ryllis got up, her hands clasped over her mouth, and, with a sob, turned and ran out of the room. At once Mrs Halley rose to her feet, ready to go in pursuit. ‘Stay where you are,’ Mr Halley said, halting her. ‘It won’t hurt her to cry for a while. It’ll do her good to have to face reality for once. She never does. She lives in a dream world and never thinks of anyone but herself.’
    Mrs Halley sat back down. For a few brief moments they heard overhead the sound of Ryllis’s feet, but then all was quiet again. Lydia stared down into her cup. On the mantelpiece the old clock ticked into the quiet. Mrs Halley got up and moved to the hall door. ‘I must go up to her,’ she said.
    ‘I told you no.’ Mr Halley got to his feet. ‘I told you to leave the girl alone, and I meant it.’
    ‘But she’s so upset. I can’t leave her like that. Sometimes you’re so hard on her.’
    ‘Don’t speak to me like that,’ he said. ‘I will not be defied by you, nor by my children.’ He pointed to the chair so recently vacated by his wife. ‘Sit down. I tell you, sit down.’
    Still Mrs Halley remained standing. The pair stood facing one another.
    ‘I told you to sit down,’ Mr Halley said, glaring at her. He was almost white with anger.
    After a long moment Mrs Halley lowered her eyes and sat back down in her chair.
    ‘Now.’ Mr Halley moved to the bureau and took up hishat. He put it on, then turned to face his wife and daughter.
    ‘I’m going back out now,’ he said, ‘and I hope by the time I return there’ll be a little change of attitude in this house. I’m talking specifically to you, Mrs Halley. Perhaps when you’re through encouraging your younger daughter in her contrary ways we can find a little more pleasure in the house.’
    He put a hand up to adjust his hat, then moved to the doorway and stepped down into the scullery and out of sight.
    The echo of the sharp closing of the scullery door rang briefly and then swiftly died. In the silence Lydia and Mrs Halley sat at the kitchen table. They sat there for two or three minutes, neither looking at the other, neither making a sound. Then Mrs Halley rose from her chair, moved to the hall door, opened it and started up the stairs. After a moment Lydia could hear the murmur of voices as her mother and Ryllis spoke together. Two minutes later Mrs Halley was coming back into the room with Ryllis following at her heels.
    ‘There,’ Mrs Halley said, ‘now we can all three relax. We’ll get tea for ourselves and do as we want to for the evening. If he’s going back to Pershall Dean he won’t be home for a while.’
    ‘There are times I could wish he’d never come back at all,’ Ryllis said.
    ‘Hush, Ryllis,’ Mrs Halley said. ‘Don’t say such things.’
    The three of them prepared a light meal for