Ruby McBride Read Free

fine were their outfits. She could hardly wait another minute for the celebrations to begin.

 
    Chapter Two
    The grey clouds and threat of rain did not in any way detract from the excitement of the day so far as Ruby was concerned. By eleven o’clock they’d found themselves a spot among the crowds on Salford docks and settled to wait the long hours until the royal train carrying Queen Victoria was due to arrive at London Road Station. Mam explained how the royal procession would be led by the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomen Cavalry as well as mounted police, and would include the Lord Mayor, the Lord High Sheriff and other civic dignitaries. They’d make their way along Moseley Street, Stretford Road and Trafford Road for the opening ceremony. The Royal Standard already flew above the town hall in readiness.
    Ruby loved to see the dull, grey, cobbled streets all trimmed up with bright bunting, flags of the empire and dozens of Union flags, as well as being filled with people eager to see the Queen. Even the sun peeped out from behind heavy clouds from time to time, as if doing its utmost to play its part but not quite managing it. She could hear the band playing marching music and people joining in with a song or two, whenever they knew the words.
    After they’d eaten their jam butties Molly agreed to allow Billy to go off and explore the docks with a group of older boys, with strict instructions that he behave and not get up to mischief.
    ‘See you stick hold of Cally’s hand.’ Cally, being an older boy of fourteen, could, in Molly’s opinion, be trusted.
    ‘If you get lost, you’ll end up a vagrant in the workhouse, like them poor mites over there.’
    She indicated a nearby stand filled with children from the Salford Workhouse. They looked strangely silent and forlorn in their institutional garb and with their solemn, wizened little faces, quite at odds with the jovial attitude of the people around them. Billy tossed them a withering glance, spat on his hand and said, ‘Cross me heart, hope to die, I’ll be good as gold. I promise, Mam.’ Filled with self-importance and thrilled to be allowed to go off with the big boys, he would have agreed to anything.
    ‘Can I go too?’ Pearl wanted to know.
    ‘No, you can’t. Why would girls want to look at ships?’
    ‘I don’t, but why should our Billy get all the fun? Anyroad, it’s better’n sitting here, doing nothing.’
    ‘Cuddle yer dolly,’ Mam told her as she turned up the cuffs of Billy’s jersey sleeves, which were rather long, and fondly kissed his cheek. Embarrassed by this show of affection, he rubbed at the offending spot. `Aw, Mam.’
    ‘See that yer back here by three o’clock, and not a minute after.’ Molly worried a good deal about her youngest child. He’d been sickly as a baby and now caught every cough and cold going, as well as suffering badly from eczema. She constantly had to wrap his chest in goose fat and brown paper, not that it did the slightest bit of good.
    ‘I will, Mam.’ He was already wriggling free of her clinging hold.
    ‘Think on, or I’ll murder thee meself,’ she called to his rapidly retreating back. ‘Here, you’ve forgotten yer ship.’ She waved the wooden toy in the air but Billy paid no attention. He was far too busy looking at real ones.
    Mam had insisted that they all bring something with them. Ruby had brought Robinson Crusoe, her favourite book. In point of fact, her only book. Although she’d read it a dozen times already from cover to cover, she never tired of the tales of adventure within. Pearl had chosen her rag doll, Sally Ann, which she’d been happily clasping in her arms until her mother told her to play with it, after which she tossed the doll aside, as if it had personally offended her, then sat frowning and pouting in a heavy sulk.
    Ruby paid little attention either to her sister’s sulks or her own book for, despite the long wait all through a gloomy afternoon, there was far too