Loving

'And where would the little chap be this afternoon?'

'My Albert? Oh I sent 'im up to Miss Swift to get 'is run out.'

'That's right,' Miss Burch said. 'It's not right for them to be all day inside. Like Raunce is for instance.'

'Gawd 'elp us with the man when they do go over the other side for Mr Jack.' As she spoke Mrs Welch started to look wild again.

'You think so?' Miss Burch asked seeming at once to dread.

'It's not thinking, I'm certain sure. Well there's just the one thing for it,' Mrs Welch cried suddenly frantic, 'every mortal object must be under lock and key. There maun't be a drawer can be opened or a door they shall get in by. And as for my pots and pans I'll get me a padlock and chains and stake 'em down to me dresser,' she almost shouted pointing to the vast array of burnished copper and aluminium. 'And if I can't get a chain will go through them 'oles in the 'andles so 'elp me God I'll send to Berlin if I shouldn't find what'll suit in this poor law island.'

'To Berlin?' Miss Burch asked with a gasp.

'That's right,' Mrs Welch answered and seemed gratified. 'We're in a nootral country aren't we?'

'Bless me but I can't stay sitting here,' Miss Burch said getting up, 'I must do a bit more I suppose. I'm obliged to you for the cup of tea I was parched,' she added.

'You're welcome,' Mrs Welch replied as she reopened her black notebook.

Agatha walked stiffly through the back premises towards Mrs Te

'The old cow,' Charley remarked once she was out of earshot.

'You've said it,' the boy replied.

'You know Bert I sometimes marvel women can go sour like that. When you think of them young, soft and tender it doesn't 'ardly seem possible now the way they turn so that you would never hold a crab apple up to them they're so acid.'

'That's right,' the boy said as he worked.

'And what Mr Eldon could see in her is a mystery but then he was deep,' Raunce commented with admiration in his voice. 'He was deep if ever there was one.' At any pause in what he was saying he whistled between his teeth like a groom while he rubbed and polished. He was apparently in fine fettle.

'What day is it?' he asked.

'Why Saturday,' the boy answered.

'Holy smoke if we was to creep upstairs tomorrow after di

Albert stopped work and stared. He seemed astonished.

'After cleaning your teeth of course,' Charley added.

'Why what d'you mean?' Albert asked.

'What would you say to Kate? A lovely blonde? Now then take your hands out of those pockets and get on with the work or we'll be here all night. Have you ever had anything to do with a woman?'

The habitual look of obstinacy appeared on Albert's face. He did not answer.

'There's no call to be bashful,' Raunce said. 'Everyone's got to make a start one time or another. Have you or have you not? You won't answer. I don't blame you neither. Broadminded Charley that's what I'm known as. But one thing you can get into that thick skull of yours. You lay off Edith, understand. You can muck about with Kate all you please but Edith's close season, get me?'

'Yes Mr Raunce, whatever you say.'

'What d'you mean whatever I say? You be careful my lad else you'll be getting me upset in another minute. Strike me blind I don't for the life of me know why I'm talking to you. But I lie awake at night moithering about that lass. Have you ever lain awake at night?'

'No Mr Raunce.'

'Don't. It's not worth it. Tell me something. D'you shave?'

The boy's left hand went to his chin.

'Not yet I don't.'

"Then put it out of mind, she wouldn't think of you. Kate might now. She's different. What say we go to their room to-morrow eh?'

'You wouldn't dare.'

'I wouldn't dare! Who d'you take me for? Let me tell you there was many an occasion I went up to Mamselle's boudoir to give her a long bongjour before she went back to France.'

'That's different,' the boy said and said under his breath, 'oh Christ help me.'

'What d'you mean that's different? They're all made the same aren't they an' that means they're built different from you and me doesn't it? What are you gettin' at talking so soft?'

'Then why ask me then?'

'Because you're sweet on 'er, that's why,' Raunce said in a sort of shout. 'Holy Moses I don't know why I allow myself to get put out,' he went on calmer. 'But there's a certain way you have of looking down that dam delicate snotty nose you sniff with that gets my goat. Gets my goat see?' he added in rising tones.

'Yes Mr Raunce.'

That's all right then. Don't pay attention to uncle, at least not on every occasion. No you're going the wrong way about it with that toast rack,' he said as helpful as you please. 'Hand over and I'll show you.' And he proceeded to demonstrate.

Meantime Mrs Te

'Violet,' she said, 'Mrs Manton, poor Mother's old friend, has asked me to stay with her at Belchester on my way over.'

'Yes dear.'

'I thought I might. It would be a change.'

'Yes dear.'

'When did you say Jack was definitely getting his leave? The twenty-first isn't it? Well if I crossed over on the eighteenth that would give me three days with Hermione at Belchester before coming up to London. You wouldn't mind just forty-eight hours down here alone?'

Every part of the young woman's body except her Adam's apple was crying out the one word Dermot. She could not trust herself to speak.

'Because if you did,' Mrs Te

'Don't you bother about little me,' Mrs Jack brought out at last. 'I shall be all right.'

'Are you sure? Really I feel I would rather get away from this place for a bit. The servants are being so truly beastly. And then there was my lovely cluster ring Jack's Aunt Emily gave me. D'you know I haven't had a word of sympathy yet from one of them about it.'

'Darling it is a shame,' Mrs Jack said. 'Badger come here. Come here when I tell you.'

'I know it's an absurd thing to expect,' Mrs Te

'I think it'll turn up. I know they haven't found anything in your bedroom but it can't simply have disappeared.'

'That's why I think if I went away somehow the luck might change,' Mrs Te

'But Raunce is a bit of a wet rag isn't he?' her daughter-in-law remarked.

'Wet blanket you mean,' Mrs Te