The Baker’s Daughter Read Free Page A

smile. “We’ll see how we get on, but you’ll stay until I can get somebody else, won’t you?”
    Sue assented to these somewhat ambiguous terms.

Chapter Three
    Mr. Bulloch had not been able to interfere, nor to prevent Sue from making the arrangements with Mrs. Darnay, but when Mrs. Darnay left, he took Sue upstairs to her grandmother.
    â€œSusan!” he cried, bursting into the dining room where the dinner was being laid. “Susan, look at this girl—she’s daft.”
    â€œMy,” said Mrs. Bulloch, smiling calmly. “So Sue’s daft, is she? That’s a pity, Thomas.”
    â€œWait till ye hear what she’s wanting to do,” Thomas told her. “She’s engaged herself to go cook for the Darnays. Did ye hear what I was saying? Susan, she’s to go tomorrow and cook for these people.”
    â€œI heard,” said old Susan softly, and young Sue, watching intently, saw her old thin hand hesitate for a moment as she laid down a spoon.
    â€œYe heard!” Mr. Bulloch cried. “Well then, tell her the thing’s all nonsense. She’s to come here if she’s wanting away from home.”
    â€œSue knows we’d like that,” Mrs. Bulloch declared, looking up and smiling tenderly at her granddaughter. “Sue knows, so there’s no need to say it. I’m thinking we would be more sensible if we listened to Sue and heard her reasons, instead of argle-bargling over her as if she was a dummy.” There was a glint of humor in her eyes, though her voice was perfectly quiet and grave, and Mr. Bulloch’s clouded face broke into a reluctant smile.
    â€œMy gracious, woman, you’re smart!” he exclaimed. “Come away, Sue, and let’s hear what possible reasons ye can have. Are ye wanting away from us all?”
    â€œNo, no, Thomas,” interrupted his wife. “That’s no way to get hearing about it.”
    â€œI want something to do,” Sue said. “I want to be useful. It’s difficult to give up everything you’ve been doing and just stand out of the way. I’m not complaining about anything,” she added with a quiver in her voice. “It’s not that, Grandfather. It’s because there isn’t enough for me to do—two women, in one wee house—”
    â€œBut ye can come here,” Mr. Bulloch cried. “Leave Grace to get on with it and come here. Ye can help me in the shop. Susan, for maircy’s sake, tell her we’re wanting her!”
    â€œSue knows that,” declared Mrs. Bulloch again.
    It was true that Sue had known she could go to the Bullochs, for they had suggested it in a tentative manner when her father married again, but Sue had not known that Mr. Bulloch wanted her to help in the shop or she would have accepted the invitation forthwith. She had visualized herself helping her grandmother with the household duties and, after considering the matter carefully, had decided that there would not be enough for her to do—Mrs. Bulloch had one small maid who came in daily, but she did all the cooking herself and obviously enjoyed the work. Sue was too proud and independent to go live with her grandparents unless she could be useful to them. All this rushed through the girl’s mind like an express train, and she began to regret her sudden impulse and to wish that she had spoken to her grandfather and found out what was in his mind.
    â€œI’ve promised Mrs. Darnay,” she said at last.
    â€œIf ye’ve promised, ye’ve promised,” Mrs. Bulloch replied. “It was a kind thought to help them out, and when they’ve got some other body to do for them ye’ll just come home to us.” She looked at her husband as she spoke and the words of protest died upon his lips, for they were so near in spirit that she could speak to him with a glance. It will be easier this way , her glance said, and Mr. Bulloch saw that this was