Loving

'I'll bet they overslept,' Kate a

'That's enough thank you my gel,' he said, 'I'll thank you…' he was going on when a great braying laugh started out of the lamp-man. It swelled. It filled the room. Raunce said, 'Look what you've done,' and in his turn began to laugh. Kate joined in. So at last did Edith. These two girls did not giggle this time, they both deeply laughed. Only Bert was left as if embarrassed, twisting a fork over and over on the table.

'Why?' Raunce threw out at the first pause and in Na

'And I hope she enjoyed it there,' Kate pronounced, become serious.

'Now Kate!' Edith said starting to blush. Raunce watched.

'I got nothing against 'er,' Kate went on. 'She's all right she is.; Because it's not natural for a married woman with 'er 'usband away i' at the war. Not that Mr Jack ever was…' but at this Raunce interrupted loud.

'Now then,' he said, 'what d'you know about bein' a married woman?'

'Not that 'e ever was much to go on with,' Kate finished dogged.

'You can say what you please,' Edith replied scarlet and they could all see that she was truly angry still. 'But 'e tried to get me in a dark corner one morning just the same,' she said.

'E didn't,' Raunce broke out.

'Oh there's no call for you to fash yourself Mr Raunce, there was I no harm done nor offence taken if you're so keen to learn.'

'I'm sure it's no concern of mine,' he said and seemed on tenterhooks.

'Now you mention it I wouldn't say he'd never made a grab at me,' Kate brought out in a small voice. With great calmness Raunce commented, 'You surprise me.'

'You don't like to say he'd never but you never have said he did,' Edith cried and seemed to accuse.

'O. K. dear O. K. I know you found Mrs Jack and the Captain.'

'Of course I found 'em,' Edith remarked subsiding.

'Well now who's going to take her tray?' Raunce asked. Tell you what, I will.'

'But that would give 'er the idea you thought the Captain was up there yet,' Edith objected.

'Go on then I'll take the old tray,' Kate offered.

'Then she'll think I'm on to what she was doing last night,' said Edith.

'Well so she must if you did discover 'em.'

'All right dear I needs must then even if I should drop it,' Edith a

'It's not the job for a man, not this morning,' she said to him and went out.

'What d'you make of that Paddy?' Kate enquired but Raunce told her to shut her mouth with such sudden violence that she dropped her gimlet eyes. Then he went out to get the tray ready for Edith.

So it was left to Edith to carry up that breakfast which she did as though nothing had occurred. She found the mistress sitting in bed wearing her best nightdress and bedjacket. She did not look at Edith but said at once, collected, 'I'm going over to England by the night boat. Would you tell Raunce to get on the phone and reserve a cabin if he can? And ask the Na

To-day Madam?'

'Yes to-night I think. Not the day after to-morrow any longer. I've changed my plans.'

'Very good Madam.'

As Edith came into the passage outside and shut the door she found Miss Burch waiting white-lipped. This woman asked almost under her breath, 'Were you all right dear?'

'I was O. K.,' Edith whispered back. And then. 'She's leavin' tonight instead.'

'With him d'you wonder?'

'Oh no,' Edith replied serious, 'it stands out a mile she can't bring herself to face me. That's why.'

There was nothing between the Captain and you was there my girl?'

'Are you crazy?' Edith broke out loud. Hearing this from inside the room Mrs Jack cowered, put a trembling hand over her lips, and pushed the tray to one side. 'Can you beat that?' Edith asked violent.

'Hush dear,' Miss Burch whispered. 'Very well then. We'll never mention what you saw again. You see I trust you. Never, you understand me?'

'Yes Miss Burch,' Edith replied. From her tone she was calming down. But as she went off to find the na

This very moment?' this woman asked frantic.

That's what she said.'

'Of all the times? And in the morning too? Then you'll oblige me by watching ' em till I'm back or they'll go dropping each other out to their deaths.'

While the na

Miss Swift had been Mrs Jack's na

'How could you when I'm not feeling well?' was Mrs Jack's answer, delivered in a little girl's whining voice and she added, 'Edith can look after them perfectly.'

Then who's to pack for you? Not me with my back Miss Violet.'

'I'd never thought. But if I asked Agatha nicely?'

'You're pale Miss Violet, you want a pill,' was Miss Swift's answer.

'Want a pill?' and the young woman spoke sharp now as if to ask what was behind this.

'When you're that colour it means you're constipated. Even if you don't know I should who cared for you from the start. Right pale. You lie there. I won't be a minute.'

Mrs Jack possibly knew better than to argue. 'Tell Agatha I want her then,' was all she said.

Miss Swift came across Miss Burch at once. Agatha might almost have been said to be on guard in that Long Passage.

'She wants you in there,' Miss Swift told her barely civil.

'Me?' Miss Burch enquired, 'what for?'

'I couldn't say,' Miss Swift replied, 'I don't meddle in other's business.'

'Well I'm not going,' Miss Burch a

'What's come over you?' Miss Swift asked coming to a halt some distance up the passage. 'First I get impertinence from one of your girls which I don't pay attention to because I know how it is at their age always worriting over men and now you cast Miss Violet in my face. What's this?'

'I don't mind what you tell her you can please yourself but I'm not going in,' and Miss Burch added under her breath, 'And I could tell you something about your lily would make you say poor me but I won't.'

That's nice I must say,' Miss Swift in her i

'You can leave my girls out of your conversation thanking you Miss Swift. They have more to put up with than you'll ever learn I hope.'

'Now you're being nothing but ridiculous. Poor na

'No thank you,' Miss Burch said inconsequent and turned her back.

The na