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with her fish bag she heard them； waiting at the corner； or leaning over the
area railings； say among themselves； 〃She's had a hard life； has Ma
Parker。〃 And it was so true she wasn't in the least proud of it。 It was
just as if you were to say she lived in the basement…back at Number 27。
A hard life！。。。
At sixteen she'd left Stratford and come up to London as kitching…maid。
Yes； she was born in Stratford…on…Avon。 Shakespeare； sir？ No； people
were always arsking her about him。 But she'd never heard his name until
she saw it on the theatres。
Nothing remained of Stratford except that 〃sitting in the fire…place of a
evening you could see the stars through the chimley；〃 and 〃Mother always
'ad 'er side of bacon； 'anging from the ceiling。〃 And there was
something… …a bush； there wasat the front door； that smelt ever so nice。
But the bush was very vague。 She'd only remembered it once or twice in
the hospital； when she'd been taken bad。
That was a dreadful placeher first place。 She was never allowed out。
She never went upstairs except for prayers morning and evening。 It was
a fair cellar。 And the cook was a cruel woman。 She used to snatch
away her letters from home before she'd read them； and throw them in the
range because they made her dreamy。。。And the beedles！ Would you
believe it？ until she came to London she'd never seen a black beedle。
Here Ma always gave a little laugh； as thoughnot to have seen a black
beedle！ Well！ It was as if to say you'd never seen your own feet。
When that family was sold up she went as 〃help〃 to a doctor's house；
and after two years there； on the run from morning till night； she married
her husband。 He was a baker。
〃A baker； Mrs。 Parker！〃 the literary gentleman would say。 For
occasionally he laid aside his tomes and lent an ear； at least； to this product
called Life。 〃It must be rather nice to be married to a baker！〃
Mrs。 Parker didn't look so sure。
〃Such a clean trade；〃 said the gentleman。
Mrs。 Parker didn't look convinced。
〃And didn't you like handing the new loaves to the customers？〃
〃Well； sir；〃 said Mrs。 Parker； 〃I wasn't in the shop above a great deal。
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We had thirteen little ones and buried seven of them。 If it wasn't the
'ospital it was the infirmary； you might say！〃
〃You might； indeed； Mrs。 Parker！〃 said the gentleman； shuddering；
and taking up his pen again。
Yes； seven had gone； and while the six were still small her husband
was taken ill with consumption。 It was flour on the lungs； the doctor told
her at the time。。。Her husband sat up in bed with his shirt pulled over his
head； and the doctor's finger drew a circle on his back。
〃Now； if we were to cut him open here； Mrs。 Parker；〃 said the doctor；
〃you'd find his lungs chock…a…block with white powder。 Breathe； my
good fellow！〃 And Mrs。 Parker never knew for certain whether she saw
or whether she fancied she saw a great fan of white dust come out of her
poor dead husband's lips。。。
But the struggle she'd had to bring up those six little children and keep
herself to herself。 Terrible it had been！ Then； just when they were old
enough to go to school her husband's sister came to stop with them to help
things along； and she hadn't been there more than two months when she
fell down a flight of steps and hurt her spine。 And for five years Ma
Parker had another babyand such a one for crying！to look after。 Then
young Maudie went wrong and took her sister Alice with her； the two boys
emigrimated； and young Jim went to India with the army； and Ethel； the
youngest； married a good…for…nothing little waiter who died of ulcers the
year little Lennie was born。 And now little Lenniemy grandson。。。
The piles of dirty cups； dirty dishes； were washed and dried。 The ink…
black knives were cleaned with a piece of potato and finished off with a
piece of cork。 The table was scrubbed； and the dresser and the sink that
had sardine tails swimming in it。。。
He'd never been a strong childnever from the first。 He'd been one
of those fair babies that everybody took for a girl。 Silvery fair curls he
had； blue eyes； and a little freckle like a diamond on one side of his nose。
The trouble she and Ethel had had to rear that child！ The things out of
the newspapers they tried him with！ Every Sunday morning Ethel would
read aloud while Ma Parker did her washing。
〃Dear Sir；Just a line to let you know my little Myrtil was laid out for
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dead。。。After four bottils。。。gained 8 lbs。 in 9 weeks； and is still putting it
on。〃
And then the egg…cup of ink would come off the dresser and the letter
would be written； and Ma would buy a postal order on her way to work
next morning。 But it was no use。 Nothing made little Lennie put it on。
Taking him to the cemetery； even； never gave him a colour； a nice shake…
up in the bus never improved his appetite。
But he was gran's boy from the first。。。
〃Whose boy are you？〃 said old Ma Parker； straightening up from the
stove and going over to the smudgy window。 And a little voice； so warm；
so close； it half stifled herit seemed to be in her breast under her heart
laughed out； and said； 〃I'm gran's boy！〃
At that moment there was a sound of steps； and the literary gentleman
appeared； dressed for walking。
〃Oh； Mrs。 Parker； I'm going out。〃
〃Very good； sir。〃
〃And you'll find your half…crown in the tray of the inkstand。〃
〃Thank you； sir。〃
〃Oh； by the way； Mrs。 Parker；〃 said the literary gentleman quickly；
〃you didn't throw away any cocoa last time you were heredid you？〃
〃No； sir。〃 〃Very strange。 I could have sworn I left a teaspoonful of
cocoa in the tin。〃 He broke off。 He said softly and firmly； 〃You'll
always tell me when you throw things awaywon't you； Mrs。 Parker？〃
And he walked off very well pleased with himself； convinced； in fact； he'd
shown Mrs。 Parker that un