Murphy - Comfort Me With Apples

For my family, with all my love.

Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love

Song of Solomon, ii:5

The first Sunday in January 1900 was bitterly cold but the congregation streaming from St Francis Xaviers church in Everton, Liverpool, greeted each other cheerfully with cries of a happy new century.

Anna and Dorrie Furlong moved out with the crowd, greeting and being greeted by their many friends, and Dorrie clutched her sisters arm.

Isnt it exciting, Anna? she exclaimed. A completely new century! Her blue eyes were sparkling and her cheeks pink with excitement as she waved and smiled around her.

Anna looked down at her affectionately and squeezed her arm. At nineteen, two years older than Dorrie, she was completely different in looks and temperament. In contrast to Dorries fashionably rounded figure and milk-and-roses complexion, Anna was tall and thin, with a pale complexion, brown eyes and smooth dark hair. She was as quiet and reserved as Dorrie was lively and outgoing and her friendships, though fewer, were deep and lasting. Dorrie had many admirers among the young men of the parish but treated all equally.

One of these was James Hargreaves, a pale and plump young man, the only son of a possessive, widowed mother. He had admired Dorrie from afar for many years but although he saw her every week when he accompanied his mother to church he had never spoken to her.

One memorable morning his mother was confined to her bed with sciatica and he went to Mass alone. He sat where he could look at Dorrie throughout the service and when he left Anna and Dorrie were standing in the porch, talking to the local doctor and his wife.

Good morning, Hargreaves, Dr OBrien had greeted him. How is your mother?

James had mumbled a reply and the doctor had introduced him to his wife and the two young ladies. James was scarcely conscious of the others as Dorrie smiled at him and he fell deeply and irrevocably in love with her.

After that he felt that he only existed from one Sunday to the next, when he could see Dorrie, although he never found an excuse to speak to her again, and he had managed to conceal his love from his mother until this first Sunday of 1900.

Anna and Dorrie had moved away from the crowd streaming towards the gates and into the courtyard to wait for a friend. As James left the church with his mother, a dumpy woman dressed in black with a jet-trimmed bonnet, heavily veiled, he saw Dorrie and eagerly raised his hat and smiled at her.

Dorrie smiled and nodded and Mrs Hargreaves looked at her, then at her son. She immediately let her large prayer book fall to the ground and exclaimed loudly, James! You are so clumsy! The young man, although so stolid in appearance, flushed deeply as he bent to retrieve the book.

His face was still red as he turned away, keeping his face averted from Dorrie, and Anna was disgusted. What a hateful woman! she exclaimed to Dorrie. Her son didnt touch the prayer book. She let it fall deliberately.

Before Dorrie could reply they were joined by the girl they had been waiting for, Isabel Jenson, who lived near them in Westbourne Street, and like them was the daughter of a ships captain. She greeted them and said she had seen the incident.

Isnt she a ridiculous old woman? Still wearing widows weeds and her husband died years ago when the son was a baby, she said scornfully.

Anna agreed. She looks like Queen Victoria with those clothes and that sour expression.

Im so sorry for Mr Hargreaves, said Dorrie. He seemed so embarrassed. Anna squeezed Dorries arm, feeling a rush of affection for her sweet-natured sister and shame at her own sharp tongue.

The girls were joined by Dr and Mrs OBrien. Good morning. A happy new century, young ladies, the doctor said heartily, as his wife murmured and smiled beside him.

A happy new century! they echoed.

Lets hope it is, he said. The last one finished badly enough, God knows. Nothing but bad news from South Africa all through December. Defeats at Magersfontein and Colenso, and Ladysmith and Mafeking and Kimberley all under siege. And by a bunch of Boer farmers! The disgrace!

The girls dont want to talk about the war, said Mrs OBrien. She explained to the girls, He worries because his nephews are in South Africa with the army, and glanced fondly at her husband.

The Irish regiments have done well though, he said. Even Queen Victoria spoke about her brave Irish. OBrien was a big red-faced Irishman and looked more like a farmer than a doctor but the girls knew his bluff manner concealed sensitivity and compassion for all his patients.

As he spoke he had been constantly raising his top hat to the many people who greeted him and, still doing this, he said, Well, things will be better now that Bobs will be taking charge. Well soon hear better news.

Bobs, doctor? Dorrie said enquiringly and he replied, Lord Roberts, my dear. The best soldier in the British Army.

And an Irishman, of course, his wife teased him.

They all laughed and Dr OBrien said heartily, A pity you were not able to attend the Midnight Mass on New Years Eve, Miss Anna. Youd have enjoyed the music.

Yes, I hoped to go with the Deagans from next door, but it wasnt possible, Anna said quietly.

She said nothing about the scene with her mother, who had declared that her nerves would be unable to stand Anna wandering the streets at that hour and Dr OBrien said, Pity. Youd have appreciated the music.

It was wonderful, said Mrs OBrien. At the stroke of midnight Fr Hayes came on to the high altar to start the Mass and the choir burst into the Gloria.

And sang magnificently throughout the Mass, the doctor said. They finished with The Heavens are Telling from Haydns Creation. Wonderful! Ill never forget it.

We went into church in one century and came out in another. So exciting, his wife said and the doctor added, The moon was shining and I looked up at it and thought how many centuries it had looked down on this old earth and seen mankind making the same mistakes over and over again. Perhaps this century will be different. With all these new ideas and cures found for illnesses, perhaps at least disease and war and poverty will be banished from the earth.

We must pray for that, said Mrs OBrien. She shivered suddenly and her husband looked at her with concern. Are you cold, my dear? he asked but she shook her head. No. A goose walked over my grave as my grandmother used to say. She believed in the second sight. She smiled at him.

Wed better move anyway, he said. Its too cold to stand about.

The group moved away, disappointing several young men who were hanging about hoping to walk home with Dorrie. Mrs OBrien walked ahead with Dorrie and Isabel, asking about Isabels father, who was due home, and Anna followed with Dr OBrien.

I hoped to see your mama at church, the doctor said. The Cullens offered seats in their carriage for your mother and aunt, yknow.

I didnt know, Anna said quietly. Mama felt faint this morning and Aunt Clara went to eight oclock Mass.

Well, well, perhaps when your father is home, the doctor said.

That wont be for several months, Anna said. Theyre still trading along the China coast.