The Year of 1901 (Chapter 4)

 

Chapter 4

It is Teatime

“Mrs. Pearson,” said Mrs. Billing after setting her teacup on her saucer. “You did not tell us your son was back in town after being gone so long to college.”

“Good heaven’s women,” replied Mrs. Pearson rather rudely in response to Mrs. Billing's conversation starter. “How could I tell you when he just got back yesterday evening.” Mrs. Pearson then took a sip (more like slurp) of her tea. Mrs. Billings just sighed at the rude behavior and sipped her tea once more.

“How did you know Andrew was back?” was Mrs. Pearson's question with a startle. She had just realized that no one knew Andrew was back in town yet.

“We ran into him on our way over here,” answered Mrs. Billings. Es almost spit her tea out by her mothers’ comment. She knew her mother had not meant anything by, “ran into.” “We were talking about having you all over for dinner some time.” Mrs. Pearson set her teacup down on the short table that was beside her chair. “You know I can’t remember the last time we had you to dinner.” She then paused and twitched her head to the right. “I think it is long overdue.”

“Well, we are awfully busy,” said the fat woman as she grabbed her plate of tarts and took a large bite of the biggest one. Mrs. Billing knew what it would take to get Mrs. Pearson to say yes to the idea.

“And,” said Mrs. Billings as if she had not heard Mrs. Pearson's comment. “Tim might be able to make it.” Mrs. Billing truly did not know if her college son would be able to make it, but she knew that Mrs. Pearson would jump at the idea. Here sat in the Crawford parlor two women, one who wanted her daughter to get better acquainted with the young man she had liked for so long. Mrs. Pearson on the other hand wanting her daughter to get hooked up with the son of a millionaire who was almost as popular as her own son among young females. Now reader you must understand, Mrs. Billings was not the kind of woman to try to get her daughters hooked up with every rich and good-looking young man in the country. She was not a prying woman. She just knew that her daughter had once liked the young Pearson boy and was trying to help the relationship on a bit. The way she tried to help her daughter along was probably not the best, but it had been a while since she had been a young girl with her eye on a young man. It seemed that it had just been too long, and she had simply forgotten how it would be embarrassing for a young girl to have the mother trying to help her love life along. Mrs. Pearson swallowed her tart and then began to speak.

“I will have to ask Mr. Pearson about the idea but we would be delighted to come.” She spoke for her and her daughter who sat on a chair nearby. When Mrs. Pearson said she would ask Mr. Pearson, her round husband, this was a lie. For Mrs. Pearson ruled the Pearson house. This is one reason why the Billings and Pearson’s did not get along. Mr. Billing, who is yet to come into our story, did not like the idea of women ruling the home. He could not stand faint-hearted men who would let their wives tell what to do and not do.

The conversation continued for a while. Gertrude sat in her chair; her nose stuck up in the air while she sipped her tea. Her blond hair was in tight curls and a string of large pearls hung around her white neck. She wore an overly puffy blue dress with exaggerated sleeves. Kitty thought she looked exactly like a clown. Kitty was a girl with a simplified fashion.

Now mind reader that she did dress up and still carried herself like a lady, but she was much more practical in what she wore than Gertrude Pearson. She did not like exaggerated sleeves because she knew it made it more difficult to walk through doors and into closed in carriages. She did not like big pearls that hung around her neck and became an annoyance. All the Billings girls were quickly getting tired of the boring conversation along with Mrs. Billings who had not said a word now for two minutes. Mrs. Pearson would not stop talking and every time she did talk, she had to take a very deep breath. It was evident that her corset was put a little too tight on the large women.

“I think Mrs. Pearson corset is too tight,” whispered Kitty as she barely leaned forward to Priscilla.

“My thoughts exactly,” said Priscilla turning her head slightly back for both girls sat on a sofa with the mother. The girls smiled at each other.

The conversation was heard by no one, but the three Billing girls. For Es sat in a wooden chair to the right of the sofa while Mrs. Pearson and Gertrude sat to the left.  Esther smiled to herself at Kitty’s comment. She then glanced around the room where Mrs. Crawford sat. Es noticed Laura Crawford sitting next to her mother, who was in a conversation with Mrs. Jennings. Mrs. Jennings was a younger woman who was evidently with child. Hannah Jennings, her daughter, sat silently next to her mother. Sarah was but 11 and seemed rather bored for there were no young girls her age at present. Esther looked over at Laura Crawford and she looked back. Laura smiled at Esther indicating the humorous situation of Mrs. Pearson’s conversation. Es smiled and then took a small bite of a tart. Both girls had been good friends for as long as they could remember. For as I mentioned earlier, the Crawford’s and Billings got along well together. This was mainly because Mrs. Billing and Mrs. Crawford hit it off. Just then little Hannah Jennings stood up walked over to Esther.

“Is Eveline not here?” questioned polite little Sarah.

“I’m afraid she has a cold. She is feeling better but still tired,” said Esther, feeling sorry for the little girl who had no one to talk to. Hannah looked down at her shoes in disappointment.

“We will tell her you missed her,” added Kitty sweetly. Es then stood up and walked over to Laura. Laura sat on a sofa with her mother, so Es sat on the left end next to Laura.

“Hi,” whispered Laura with a smile. “I was about to walk over to you. This tea is terribly small. It seems that everyone is out of town right now.”

“Yes,” replied Es. “I am actually a bit bored.”

“You’re not the only one. I do believe Mrs. Pearson is pushing the limit of how fast you can talk with a tight corset.” Both girls smiled to keep themselves from laughing. “Would you like to go up to my room?” continued Laura when she had stopped laughing.

“I was just waiting for you to ask,” replied Es with a bit of a laugh but still in a whisper. Both girls promptly stood up just like ladies. Laura quickly set her teacup on the table, which sat in the right corner, before joining Esther again. Esther noticed small Sarah sitting next to her mother again and still looking unhappy. Mrs. Crawford and Mrs. Jennings still sat talking as they had been.

“Hannah, would you like to come upstairs with us?” asked Esther when Mrs. Crawford and Mrs. Jennings had a pause in their conversation. Sarah quickly turned to her mother.

“May I?” she pleaded.

“Yes, you may go,” was Mrs. Jennings's reply before continuing her conversation with Mrs. Crawford.

………..

“When does Jane get back from Europe?” asked Esther as she walked over to Laura’s bedroom window.

“Next week,” replied Laura as she started over to the window. Sarah Jennings just walked around the room looking

“Has she written lately?”

“Yes, she has. We received a letter on Monday." For today was Tuesday. "Would you like to read it?”

“Yes, please!” answered Es. Laura quickly glided over to her desk that was pushed against the right wall. She pulled the thin, brown drawer open and picked up a large, folded letter from the top.

“She went with your grandmother?” asked Es as she received the letter from Laura’s white hand.

“Yes, our cousin Margret accompanied them as well,” said Laura. Esther opened the letter and began to glace over it. She did not intend on reading the entire thing for it was long and a bit boring. “Margret is 21 and courting.” Added Laura. “Jane said that she writes him every day.” Esther started to laugh. “Look down here said Laura as she pointed and some words at the end of the letter and then began to read. “I do not know how I shall stand to be with Margret another day for all she talks of is George Blakely. She writes him every day and I must say the letters are long.  At least 3 pages. Sheets and sheets.”

“Oh my!” said Es this a giggle. “I cannot imagine how she comes up with three pages of decent words every day.”

“Neither do I.” Both girls laughed very heartily. Es quickly scanned the letter for another second before folding it. “I think Pricilla would like to read this. Can I take it to her?”

“Oh yes of course.” Esther quickly went out of the room and down the stairs to find her oldest sister.

Mrs. Pearson was still talking wildly but now she was speaking to Mrs. Jennings who seemed to be bearing it well. Mrs. Jennings was always a woman of fine character. She always smiled and spoke in the calmest voice.  It seemed that in the time Esther was upstairs, her mother and Mrs. Jennings had switched places. For Mrs. Billing was now in a lively conversation with Mrs. Crawford and seemed to be enjoying it much more than the conversation she had been having with Mrs. Pearson. Esther speedily made her way to her sisters who were no longer sipping their tea but just sitting and whispering to one another.

“Would you like to read the letter from Jane?” asked Esther to Priscilla.

“Oh yes!” replied Priscilla happily as she took the letter that Es held out. “When did it come?” She started to unfold the letter.

“Monday.” Kitty looked over Priscillas shoulder as she started to read it quietly out loud.

……….

“I know it is here somewhere,” said Laura as Esther walked back into the room. Laura was looking for her old doll. She had asked Hannah if she would like to play with it without knowing exactly where it was.

“If you can’t find it, it is alright,” replied Hannah politely.

“Here it is,” shouted Laura as she pulled an old doll from her closet. The doll's dress was wrinkled, and her curls frizzed. This was because she had not been played within a long time. For Laura did not have any younger sister. Only two brothers who were 9 and 10. Hannah took it happily not minding the doll's state.

For the rest of the time, Esther and Laura talked and laughed. They talked of how Andrew Pearson was back in town and how girls used to flirt with him. They talked of horseback riding and how Laura needed to over and ride. For the Crawford did not have horses or land as the Billing's did. Soon though it was time to leave and Kitty had come up to tell them so. Hannah Jennings had already gone down a few minutes ago.

“It is time to leave, Es,” said Kitty after opening the bedroom door. The girls quickly walked down the stairs and to the front door. Mrs. Billing was putting her hat on while Mrs. Pearson talking.

“I shall talk to Mr. Pearson about the dinner invitation,” said Mrs. Pearson as she put her gloves on. “I shall have our housekeeper call and tell you if we shall be able to make it.” Charlie, the Crawford’s butler, held the door open for Mrs. Pearson and Gertrude.

“Thank you, Mrs. Pearson,” replied Mrs. Billing. “We look forward to having you.” Mrs. Pearson started to walk towards the door before turning around again.

“Oh, will there be anyone to answer the phone?” asked the fat women rudely.

“No matter what you have heard we do keep some servants,” replied Mrs. Billings sharply. As this was said the Billing girls were putting on all their accessories.

“Indeed.” Mrs. Pearson then started out the door, following her daughter. Andrew held the door open for his mother and sister. Gertrude turned sideways to get through the carriage door for her puffed sleeves would not allow her to get in normally. Kitty saw this and laughed quietly to herself. It truly was funny. Everyone followed the Pearson's out the front door in order to say goodbye.

“Good day Mrs. Crawford, Good day Mrs. Billing,” said Mrs. Pearson as she entered her carriage.

“Good Day Mrs. Pearson,” replied Mrs. Crawford politely. Andrew Pearson nodded to the ladies before stepping into the carriage and shutting the door.

“Giddy up,” shouted their driver as he started off.