AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lloyd George was not making public speeches of any kind, claiming he had a sore throat. In London in December half the population had coughs and colds, but all the same Ethel suspected Lloyd George just wanted time to think. She took that as a good sign. An immediate response would have been a rejection; anything else was hopeful. He was at least considering peace, she thought optimistically.
Meanwhile President Wilson threw America's weight into the balance on the side of peace. He suggested that as a preliminary to talks all the warring powers state their aims-what they were trying to achieve by fighting.
"That's embarrassed them," said Bernie Leckwith that evening. "They've forgotten why they started it. They're fighting now just because they want to win. "
Ethel remembered what Mrs. Dai Ponies had said about the strike: These men-once they get into a fight, all they care about is winning. They won't give in, whatever the cost. She wondered how a woman prime minister might have reacted to a peace proposal.
But Bernie was right, she realized over the next few days. President Wilson's suggestion met with a strange silence. No country answered immediately. That made Ethel more angry. How could they carry on if they did not even know what they were fighting for?
At the end of the week Bernie organized a public meeting to debate the German note. On the day of the meeting, Ethel woke up to see her brother standing beside her bed in his khaki uniform. "Billy!" she cried. "You're alive!"
"And on a week's leave," he said. "Get out of bed, you lazy cow. "
She jumped up, put on a dressing gown over her nightdress, and hugged him. "Oh, Billy, I'm so happy to see you. " She noticed the stripes on his sleeve. "Sergeant, now, is it?"
"Aye. "
"How did you get into the house?"
"Mildred opened the door. Actually, I been here since last night. "
"Where did you sleep?"
He looked bashful. "Upstairs. "
Ethel grinned. "Lucky lad. "
"I really like her, Eth. "
"So do I," Ethel said. "Mildred is solid gold. Are you going to marry her?"
"Aye, if I survive the war. "
"You don't mind about the age difference?"
"She's twenty-three. It's not like she's really old, thirty or something. "
"And the children?"
Billy shrugged. "They're nice kids, but even if they weren't I'd put up with them for her sake. "
"You really do love her. "
"It's not difficult. "
"She's started a little business, you must have seen all the hats up there in her room. "
"Aye. Going well, too, it is, she says. "
"Very well. She's a hard worker. Is Tommy with you?"
"He come over on the boat with me, but now he've gone to Aberowen on the train. "
Lloyd woke up, saw a strange man in the room, and began to cry. Ethel picked him up and quieted him. "Come in the kitchen," she said to Billy. "I'll make us some breakfast. "
Billy sat and read the paper while she made porridge. After a moment he said: "Bloody hell. "
"What?"
