Loving - Henry Green [41]
'ome,' she interrupted. 'You wanted to leave home so you went into service,' he echoed. 'All right. You've been here 'ow long? Sixteen months O. K. All that period you ate their grub, took your wage, and didn't give more in return than would cover a tanner. I'm not blaming, mind, I've done the same. Now then when they're entitled to a month's notice you want to welsh no offence to cook. Don't call her cook she don't like it,' he added referring to Mrs Welch, and seemingly in high good humour. 'Forty quid a year and all found then to have a hundred Jerries after me no thank you,' she said. 'Kate Armstrong,' Edith cried out. 'Send in your notice then," Raunce went on, 'there's nothing and nobody to stop you. But give them the four weeks that's coming to 'em. And be called up in the Army when you land on the other side.' 'What d'you mean get called up?' 'Didn't you know? They've Army police waitin' where the travellers come off the boat. You'll be took straight off to the depot.' 'I wouldn't go.' 'Then if you resist it's the glass 'ouse for you my girl.' 'The glass 'ouse? What's that?' 'Army Detention Barracks ducks. It's rough in them places.' 'Well I don't know, you are cheerful aren't you,' Kate said. 'That's right you forget all about it,' he answered. He winked his bluest eye at Edith so Kate could not see him. Looking round the corner into the great kitchen Miss Burch said, 'I was going to have a lie down for ten minutes but here I am.' Mrs Welch was alone with her notebook. She did not look up. She called out, 'Jane a cup of tea for Miss Burch.' Agatha sat down across the table from her. She did not speak again until the tea was brought. Then she came out almost tragically dramatic, in a very different tone to the one she had used in the servants' hall. 'They're not either of them coming back now,' she said. 'There's been a telegram. They're staying over.' 'Not ever?' Mrs Welch enquired sharp, drawing a tumbler of what appeared to be water towards her. 'Oh I don't go so far as that Mrs Welch,' Miss Burch replied, 'I wouldn't like to say they were never returning, but here we are now on our own and there's Raunce in there over his dinner upsetting my girls with his talk of the war and this I. R. A. worry.' 'I never let that man into my kitchen.' 'You're one of the lucky ones Mrs Welch. You've a place you can call your own.' 'Ah,' this woman answered, 'but run over by two-legged mice.' 'Can't keep nothing safe,' she went on after a silence, and took a gulp out of the glass. 'It's me kidneys,' she explained. 'I wonder you don't take that hot,' Miss Burch commented. 'Hot?' Mrs Welch cried. 'Not on your life not with...' and then she checked herself. 'It's not natural to sup what's been heated except when it's soup or broth,' she went on careful. Miss Burch eyed the tumbler. On which Mrs Welch put her head back and drank what was left at one go, as if in defiance. 'There you are,' she said to Agatha in a thicker voice. 'Very soon if he carries on in the way he's doing,' Miss Burch began again rather quickly, 'I'll remain to do the work alone. Even now with Miss Swift taken bad there's only Edith to look after the children.' At this Mrs Welch without warning let out a shout of, 'Who took my waterglass tell me that,' and leaned right across the table. 'Bless me,' Miss Burch said, hurriedly drinking up her tea. 'But it's not as if it was any more trouble takin' your Albert out for the afternoons I'm sure. The girl's bringing a third along doesn't amount to nothing,' she said. At this point, as Agatha was getting up to go, Mary the scullery maid came in the door. 'I spoke to the butcher'm,' she said. There was a heavy silence. At last Mrs Welch replied unctuously, 'So you spoke in spite of what I said,' From her voice she might have been pleased. 'E said Captain Davenport had left for England sudden. Jane and me's wonderin' if per'aps they've learned something about this invasion.' 'Maybe there's something you don't know Mary,' Miss Burch said, 'and which has nothing to do with wars or rumours of wars.' 'I won't wear it,' Mrs