09-09-2021, 04:39 PM
Jenny frowned while she listened but then her expression softened. "It was good of 'im to take ye on, rather than hand ye over to t' police. And if he's decided yer past misdeeds is none of 'is business no more, it's none o' mine either." She entered the kitchen and leaned against the doorpost. "Mr. Appleton's been good to me family. Me father an two oldest brothers died when t' mine they worked in collapsed. Our Peter was only my age. Fresh out o' school. The rest of us was still in school, so we lost all our breadwinners. Me mam started takin' in laundry, but it wasn't enough. But rather than throwin' us off t' land, Mr. Appleton offered a job to me brother and sister, and later Jimmy and me. 'E helped me brother get an apprenticeship. Paid for it. And well... we were quietly hopin' he'll do t' same for Jimmy. I think Jimmy's afraid ye'll somehow take that chance from 'im... But I think... knowing why 'e hired ye, I don't think 'e meant to replace Jimmy or owt..."