Loving - Henry Green [13]
putting in the Money Order he squinted a bit wild, and this was shocking with his two different-coloured eyes. Lastly he laid his head down on his arms, went straight off to sleep. There was often no real work went on in the Castle of an afternoon. Generally speaking this time was set aside so that Edith could sew or darn for Mrs Jack whom she looked after, and for Kate to see to the linen. But this afternoon as there had been guests they lent Bert a hand to clear away, then helped Mrs Welch's two girls Jane and Mary whose job it was to wash up everything except the tea things. The four of them chattered in Mrs Welch's scullery while this woman, seated in an armchair behind the closed door of her kitchen, stared grimly at her own black notebook. 'How is she?' Edith asked jerking her head and in a whisper. 'She's all right,' Mary whispered back, 'though we wondered a bit in the morning didn't we dear?' she said to Jane. 'I'll say we wondered.' 'But it was O. K. at the finish,' Mary went on. 'All's well that ends well as they say. There was practically nothing came back from the luncheon nor the nursery and you people do seem to've enjoyed your dinners.' 'Just old Aggie Burch as didn't like 'er spuds,' Kate said, 'but you don't want to take notice. I know I don't.' 'Doesn't this sink make your back ache,' Edith remarked. 'But there,' she said, 'I expect her nephew on his way over is bringing a big change in Mrs Welch. I shouldn't be surprised if she didn't have him on account of the bombing. Isn't it dreadful?' The war's on now all right,' Kate said, 'and do these rotten Irish care? They make me sick.' 'What's the Irish got to do with it?' Jane asked. 'They're out aren't they? If they mean to stay out who's to blame 'em?' 'If it wasn't for the children the little angels I wouldn't ever remain. I couldn't really,' Edith announced. 'Look I'm going to dry, my back's broke. I could worship the ground they walks on. They're real little ladies. And how Mrs Jack dresses them. They've got everything so nice. I cherish those kids.' 'Well they're goin' to have a boy to keep 'em company now,' Kate said with malice. 'Very nice too and so they should,' she added. 'But what will Miss Swift say to that?' asked Edith. 'Oh that's O. K.,' Mary said, 'Miss Swift she come down to have a chat and Jane and me gets out of the light thinking there will be ructions but not a sound come past that closed door not one. We stayed here to see too didn't we love?' she said to Jane. Then in the end they both came through proper buddies, Mrs Welch seein' 'er out as pleasant as you please and her saying "well I hope the air will do him good. It's like this with children Mrs Welch," she says. "One and all they're better for a change," she says. I was that surprised.' There now I'm very glad,' said Edith, 'I am, honest.' 'Now you girls hurry with that washing up,' said the dreadful voice, 'oh, I see you've some help. There's quite a change come over this house I must admit. And don't you start a'wagging of those light tongues. But would you two young ladies like a glass of milk?' It was Mrs Welch. It was almost unheard of that she should offer refreshment. Kate and Edith could only giggle. 'Mary,' she went on, 'you run and fetch that pitcher from the larder. What I've said over and over is at the age you are you girls don't get sufficient milk. My sister writes it's short enough at home.' 'Might it be your sister's little boy who is coming to visit, Mrs Welch?' That's so Edith and his name is Albert, same as that Raunce's sick lad. One name less for Mrs T. to remember. And if he had been christened Arthur we wouldn't understand what to think would we? All the men in this place having to be of the same name, whoever heard of such stuff and nonsense.' They laughed. Then when Edith and Kate had had their milk these two girls judged it best to be gone. 'You can't be sure of her, love,' Edith said as they made their way up the back stairs. 'We did leave a bit for them yet but I'm positive she meant us to go really, calling us young ladies did you hear? You know what