Loving - Henry Green [34]
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 announced. 'Not again. Wild horses couldn't.' '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 innocence replied. 'You draw your monthly wage yet you're gettin' like your girls, you want this and that besides." '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 nanny,' Miss Swift added and her face seemed to wrinkle as though about to cast a skin. 'No thank you,' Miss Burch said inconsequent and turned her back. The nanny appeared to take hold of herself. She started on her way once more. 'I don't know I'm sure,' she said over her shoulder, making off to the medicine cupboard. She left Miss Burch outside that bedroom door but when she was back with a glass of water and a flat box in her hands, she found Miss Burch inside saying, 'yes Madam, no Madam,' at the side of the bed after all, plainly ill at ease yet taking instructions about what and about what not to pack. But Agatha did not seem able to keep her eyes from those other pillows on Mrs Jack's double bed. These had been well beaten and the clothes were pulled up smooth over where that man's body must have lain yet she stared on and off. It must have been she could not help herself. Until the young lady told her to go as soon as she had so to speak been reinforced by Miss Swift's return. And Agatha left with a stiff back. Once she was gone, 'Now take a sip and swallow it right down,' the nanny said as she bustled. Then added, 'It's liver that's what it is dear. They won't trouble to give themselves a walk to loosen the bowels. They get fat on your food and cups of tea and with leaning on their brooms.' 'Who do?' Mrs Jack asked. She was probably unsure of everything and everyone. 'Why those that's paid to keep the Castle fit for us to live in,' the nanny replied. 'Oh I'm tired. Your little girl's not slept well,' Mrs Jack broke out. 'Now isn't that a shame? You just lie back and let that pill do its duty. I'll tell your angels you'll be wanting them around midday. You go on as your old nanny says and you'll have clear cheeks for the young man.' On this she left. The lady fell back as though exhausted. But her breakfast tray was bare. She must have found strength in between to eat it all. 'Well I've got to take those little draggers out this afternoon,' Edith announced at dinner the same day. 'It's not fair I tell you.' 'Hey?' Raunce asked at his most serious, 'and you who has always made a point they were your favourites?' 'How's the work goin' to be finished? I'll ask you that,' she said quoting Miss Burch. 'You're the one to talk when you're not going to do none,' Kate put in. 'There'll be all the more for me tomorrer then,' was Edith's answer. 'You're not a girl to take on another's share and there's no reason why you should.' 'Now then that's plenty,' Miss Burch appealed to both. 'But there's a thing I won't do,' Edith went on in a lower tone, obstinately. 'Mrs Welch's Albert. Now I won't take 'im with them.' 'Be quiet both of you please. Oh my poor head. I've got a sick headache,' Miss Burch explained to Charley Raunce at which Kate muttered, 'I wasn't sayin' nothin'.' 'Look,' Charley announced at Edith, 'if you choose I'll come along.' 'Well that's a real step forward,' Miss Burch said looking kindly. Then she added as though unable to help herself, 'It should do you a mort of good.' In spite of the differences grown fast as