Page 158 of The Missing Sister
There was a pause as John pondered what Ambrose had said. Maggie was looking at her husband with nothing less than blatant hope in her eyes.
As the silence continued, Ambrose felt he should fill it.
‘Of course, neither of you are under any kind of pressure to agree, but I thought that there was no harm in suggesting a possible way forward that might suit all parties. Both Father O’Brien and I were educated by the Holy Ghost Fathers, who taught us to be charitable. I have recently felt that I have not done enough to help others less fortunate than I, being busy with my studies in Dublin as I am.’
John looked up and met Ambrose’s gaze for the first time.
‘’Tis an awful lot of money you’d be offering us, sir. What would you want in return?’
‘Nothing at all. In fact, as Maggie has explained to you, any transaction that happens between us must never be spoken of again. For both your sakes, and the father’s,’ he said, indicating James. ‘Father O’Brien cannot be seen to have had anything to do with this, and indeed, he does not.’
John’s attention moved to James. ‘You went to school with Mister...?’
‘Lister,’ James confirmed, ‘and, yes, I did. I can vouch completely for his character and tell you that this is nothing more than an act of charity towards a motherless child.’
‘And towards us,’ muttered John. ‘We don’t need to take that much for one small babe.’
The baby in question had been mewling all through their conversation and now burst into full-throttled screeching.
‘May I pick her up and take her to the kitchen for a feed?’ Maggie’s eyes beseeched her husband.
John nodded his consent. Maggie swept up the child and almost ran from the room, as if she was unable to hear any more.
‘I think that before you even begin to discuss the finances, the most important thing is to decide whether you are willing to take her,’ James cut in from behind his desk.
‘You can see already that Maggie has her heart set on the babe,’ said John. ‘It nearly broke in two when she lost our Mary only yesterday. And only a year since we lost the babe before that. O’course, we’d be hoping there’ll be more babes of our own to come. Is this child healthy?’
‘I’d say so, from the size of her,’ James answered. ‘And your wife certainly seemed to think so.’
John O’Reilly sat in silence for a while before he spoke. ‘You’re certain you’ll be wanting nothing more from us?’
‘Nothing,’ confirmed Ambrose. ‘I’m sure Father O’Brien will keep me updated occasionally on her progress, and that will be payment enough. I simply want to see the child brought up in a family and taken care of.’
‘We’d do our best, but we can’t guarantee to keep her safe if the measles or influenza are making the rounds.’
‘I do understand that, Mr O’Reilly, I only meant that I would take an interest from afar. But if you prefer, no interest at all.’
‘Well, as to the money... You told Maggie ’twould be in cash? And we’d have it tomorrow?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then I must tell you that we are a God-fearing family, and if my wife had come home and told me of the babe, and what with her still in milk, I might ha’ been persuaded to take her in without your offer.’
Ambrose could see from the set of his shoulders that the man might be poor, but he was proud in equal measure. Ambrose liked him even more.
‘I believe you would, Mr O’Reilly. I can see that you love your wife very much, so perhaps the best way to look at the amount you will receive is that it can be used to make her and your family’s lives more comfortable than they have been.’
‘’Twould certainly do that, sir. The damp in our place is something fierce. I may be able to fix it, or even begin on a new farmhouse for us all. Not too fast, mind, or the neighbours would start to wonder where the funds had come from. I’d be wanting no gossip over this.’
‘I’m sure you are both sensible enough to make sure that won’t happen,’ James interjected. ‘We must remember that at the heart of all this is a newborn child who needs a home and a family. Everyone involved is performing an act of charity.’
‘Yes, Father, thank you. And I’ll be wise over how the money is spent. Slowly, over time, so.’
There was a knock at the door and Maggie appeared round it with the baby in her arms.
‘She’s sleeping now,’ she said, then looked at her husband. ‘See, John? Isn’t she beautiful?’
John got to his feet to look at the baby and gave a small smile. ‘That she is, love.’
