Elsie frowned. The school was controversial only because both Anglicans and Methodists supported it, and occasionally one faction would seek to exclude the other. But neither Hornbeam nor Riddick cared about religious differences, as far as she knew. ‘What about my school?’ she said, and she heard the hostility in her own voice.
Hornbeam said: ‘I believe you’re giving the children of strikers free dinners.’
So that was it. She remembered that attack was the best form of defence. ‘The town is presented with a splendid opportunity,’ she began. ‘For a limited time we have the chance to instil a little knowledge into children who otherwise spend all day, six days a week, minding machines. We must make the most of it, mustn’t we?’
Hornbeam did not let her steer the conversation. ‘Unfortunately, you’re supporting the strike. I’m sure you don’t intend to, but that is the effect of what you’re doing.’
‘What on earth do you mean?’ said Elsie, though she could see where this was going, and she had a bad feeling.
‘We hope that hunger will make the strikers see reason. And though they may be willing to suffer themselves, most parents cannot bear to see their children go hungry.’
‘Are you saying...’ Elsie paused to take breath. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. ‘Are you saying that I should stop feeding these starving children? As a way of pressuring the hands to return to work?’
Hornbeam was not moved by her incredulity. ‘It would be betterfor all concerned. By prolonging the strike, you prolong the suffering.’
Her father said: ‘Alderman Hornbeam is right, you know, my dear.’
Elsie said indignantly: ‘Jesus told Peter: “Feed my sheep.” Aren’t we in danger of forgetting that?’
Riddick spoke for the first time. ‘The devil can quote scripture to his purpose, they say.’
Elsie said: ‘Be quiet, Will, you’re out of your depth.’
Riddick flushed with anger. He had been insulted, but he could not think of a riposte.
Hornbeam said: ‘Really, Mrs Mackintosh, we must ask you to end this interference in our business.’
‘I’m not interfering,’ she said. ‘I’m feeding hungry children, as is the duty of all Christians, and I’m not going to stop for the sake of clothiers’ profits.’
‘Who supplies the food?’
Elsie did not want to answer that question, because her father did not realize how much of the children’s broth came from the palace kitchen. She said: ‘It’s donated by generous townspeople, both Anglican and Methodist.’
‘People such as who?’
She knew what Hornbeam was up to. ‘You want a list of names so that you can go round them all and bully them into withdrawing support.’
Hornbeam coloured, confirming the truth of her accusation. Angrily he said: ‘I’d like to know who is subverting the commercial success of this town!’
There was a tap at the door and Kenelm looked in. ‘Is there anything I can help you with, my lord bishop?’ he said, looking eager. He wanted to be in on whatever was happening.
The bishop looked irritated. ‘Not just now, Mackintosh,’ he said curtly.
Kenelm looked as if he had been slapped. After a hesitation, heclosed the door. He would be angry about this all evening, Elsie knew.
The interruption had given her a moment to think, and now she said: ‘Alderman Hornbeam, if you’re so concerned about the commercial future of this town, why don’t you negotiate with your hands? You might find that you’re able to reach agreement.’
Hornbeam drew himself upright. ‘I will not be told how to run my business by the hands!’
‘So this is not really about the town’s commerce,’ Elsie said. ‘It’s about your pride.’
‘Certainly not!’
‘You ask me to stop feeding fifty hungry children, yet you won’t lower yourself to talk to your weavers. You argue a poor case, sir.’
There was a silence. Both Riddick and the bishop looked at Hornbeam for a response, and Elsie realized that they, too, thought his obstinacy was part of the problem.
She said: ‘Anyway, I couldn’t stop the free dinners even if I wanted to. Pastor Midwinter would take over from me and continue the work. The only difference would be that it would become a Methodist school.’
