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Great Writing - Home > Extended > Day after Day - Chapter 9
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Extended Work
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| Day after Day - Chapter 9 | |
| By jean.day | ||||||||
| 27 May 2006 | ||||||||
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Muriel posted the chosen poems off to Mr. Tree, and he replied that he hoped he would know something more for her when they met again at the picnic in August. One day in late July, her father, George Williams King, asked Muriel if she would like to accompany him to an auction of fine art which was being held in Worcester. He was very keen to add to his collection, and as his only child, Muriel would one day inherit all his paintings, so he felt it was necessary for her to like the work as well. Also he would value her opinions as an art critic, as she had studied the history of art at school and had many books on the subject. Muriel enjoyed going on outings with her father, who was a handsome man. Perhaps 5’10” tall, he had a round face with laughing brown eyes, and a thick slightly curly at the edges moustache. Muriel had always been a daddy’s girl. She loved her mother, but she adored her father, and had always looked for his praise, accepted his criticisms, and sought his opinions. George was well known as the head of a large grocery store which resided on the corner of the Cross and St. Swithin’s Street. He had originally been in the grocery business with his father and elder half brother in Guildford, but when his father died, and his mother remarried, he chose to come to Worcester to seek the family connection of his mother’s brother, James John Williams. The Williams family took him in and treated him as if he was a child of their own. They did have several children, all of them younger than George by at least 5 years, but it was George with his flare for the grocery business who was offered a partnership. James Williams taught George all he knew, and helped him with all the local contacts, and then when he felt that George was able to handle it on his own, he sold his share of the business to him and took his family and moved to Surrey, back to where George had come from, back to the area where George’s mother, now married to Thomas Wood lived. The name on the grocery didn’t change with the change in ownership. The name King never figured in it at all, but it was George Williams King who kept it successful and even increased its success over the years. Everyone liked George Williams King, who was in reality a rather shy man, who shunned the public eye beyond the necessary to keep on top of the business world. He was a member of all the various commerce led groups, and a Mason, and for awhile, at the suggestion of James Williams, he held a Councillor post, but he didn’t really like the public aspect that was demanded of him in that role, and didn’t stand a second time. The auction was being held at Everill Frank and Co. whose auction rooms were located at 59 Foregate Street. Muriel was very excited about the prospect. They entered the auction room which was fairly well packed with businessmen and dealers. She caught sight of Mr. Henry Walker from Perdiswell Hall, and smiled at him. He smiled back with the sort of look one makes when one doesn’t really recognise someone, but in the back of one’s mind is the thought that maybe one should. Muriel, who enjoyed creating mischief, said to her father, “Do you know that man over there?” pointing to Mr. Walker. “I recognise him as Henry Walker but I don’t think we have been officially introduced.” “Let me introduce you,” said Muriel, and drew her father towards Mr. Walker. “I am so pleased to see you here, Mr. Walker,” she said. “May I introduce you to my father, George Williams King, who is the proprietor of J.J. Williams and Co, Grocers, whom I am sure you have had occasion to use.” Henry Walker looked even more embarrassed than before, as he hadn’t really a clue who Muriel was or where he had met her previously. “Pleased to meet you, I am sure,” he said to GW, extending his hand, which George Williams King shook also looking somewhat bemused. “And how is your daughter Eva?” asked Muriel. “I haven’t seen her since her ball to which you so kindly invited me and my friend May Stinton. You might not have heard, but poor May’s father died on the very day of the ball, so we returned home afterwards, full of our excitement, to have a very sad end to the evening.” Henry Walker, much relieved to now be able to put the name and face to an occasion said, “I am very sorry to hear that. Please give Miss Stinton our sincere apologies on the sad loss of her father. And thank you for asking after my daughter, who is very well. I will tell her you asked.” “I have been in correspondence with Eva since the ball. She is helping me in my quest to find my noble ancestors,” said Muriel, with a sweet innocent expression. Her father, hearing of this for the first time, was about to ask what in heaven’s name she was referring to, when the auction appeared to be starting, so they all took their places to get ready for the action. George was obviously well known to the assembled bidders and auctioneers. Earlier, Muriel and her father had registered their interest, and then examined the paintings which were later coming up in the auction. Her father pointed out the ones that most appealed to him. “John Clayton Adams was a prolific painter,” he said, “and he did many paintings of Guildford, which is of course where I come from. I would like to bid on his paintings here, which are Highland Scenes.” Muriel looked at them carefully. The views were of mountains, with heather in the foreground, and hills, no people, but majestic scenery. The most minute flower was executed with great care. She loved them and very much hoped they would get them. “Also a favourite of mine is John Millar Nicholson, who comes from the Isle of Man, but he has painted abroad as well. I particularly like his shipping scenes.” “Oh Father,” said Muriel, “Please buy that little one that Mr. Nicholason has painted for me. In Pulrose Meadow, it is called. It would go so well in my bedroom, and is small enough to take with me wherever I go.” “I will do my best,” said George. “One of Worcester’s most famous artists is Henry Harris Lines, and he has some paintings in the auction today too. He mostly paints aspects of the Cathedral, and scenes around Malvern, but today his work is of an old woman in a church porch, and a magnificent view of trees. I will try to get them both,” said George. George was as good as his word, and bid well beyond the expected prices for the various paintings to make sure that he got what he wanted. Although he was an astute businessman, he also knew the value of paintings as long term investments. He managed to get all the paintings that he had pointed out to Muriel, and as well got a water colour by Richard P. Leitch of Cattle Watering in a River Landscape and he was particularly pleased with getting two river landscapes in oil by Edward Waite, whose work was well known in London Galleries. George read to Muriel from the guidebook about Edward Waite. “Edward Wilkins Waite RBA was born at Leatherhead in Surrey on the 14th April 1854, the son of a dissenting minister the Rev. Edward Waite, MA, and his wife Cleopha Julia (nee Dukes). He was the second in a family of six sons and two daughters. He was born into an artistic tradition; his grandfather, William Watkin Waite, was a miniaturist, and his father an amateur watercolour painter. Three of his brothers became artists and two musicians. Waite was an amateur musician himself, playing the violin. "Waite was educated at Mansion House Grammar School, Leatherhead. In 1874 he went to Ontario, Canada and worked for a while as a lumberjack, a sketch book from this journey survives. Waite seems to have taken up painting seriously on his return. In 1878 he exhibited two pictures at the Royal Academy in London and again two in 1880. Thereafter, with only eight breaks, he exhibited at the Royal Academy every year. From the late 1880's Waite exhibited his work extensively, for example in 1893, in which year he became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists, he exhibited some 30 works in over twenty separate places,” and George added, “I see that one place he is exhibited is Bristol. We must go there soon and become familiar with more of his work.” So carrying the smaller works, and having delivery of the larger ones promised by the next day, George and Muriel were very pleased with their day as they went home to tell Mrs. King to make room on her walls for eight more paintings. The ninth one Muriel would take charge of herself.
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