Anna of the Five Towns; a novel

Excerpt: ... she said timidly. 'I was out this afternoon.' 'Out, wast?' 'Mr. Mynors sent word to ask me to go down and look over the works; so I went. I thought it would be all right.' 'Well, it was'na all right. And I'd like to know what business thou hast gadding out, as soon as my back's turned. How can I tell whether Price sent up or not? And what's more, thou know's as th' house hadn't ought to be left.' 'I'm sorry,' she said pleasantly, with a determination to be meek and dutiful. He grunted. 'Happen he didna' send. And if he did, and found th' house locked up, he should ha' sent again. Bring me th' inkpot, and I'll write a note as Agnes must take when her goes to school to-morrow morning.' Anna obeyed. 'They'll never be able to pay twenty-five pounds, father,' she ventured. 'They've paid thirty already, you know.' 'Less gab,' he said shortly, taking up the pen. 'Here-write it thysen.' He threw the pen towards her. 'Tell Titus if he doesn't pay five-and-twenty this wik, us'll put bailiffs in.' 'Won't it come better from you, father?' she pleaded. 'Whose property is it?' The laconic question was final. She knew she must obey, and began to write. But, realising that she would perforce meet both Titus Price and Willie on Sunday, she merely demanded the money, omitting the threat. Her hand trembled as she passed the note to him to read. 'Will that do?' His reply was to tear the paper across. 'Put down what I tell ye,' he ordered, 'and don't let's have any more paper wasted.' Then he dictated a letter which was an ultimatum in three lines. 'Sign it,' he said. She signed it, weeping. She could see the wistful reproach in Willie Price's eyes. 'I suppose,' her father said, when she bade him 'Good-night,' 'I suppose if I hadn't asked, I should ha' heard nowt o' this gadding-about wi' Mynors?' 'I was going to tell you I had been to the works, father,' she said. 'Going to!' That was his final blow, and having delivered it, he loosed the victim. 'Go to bed,'...