Loving - Henry Green [55]
invasion? If there's one thing I don't aim at it's being interned by the Jerries.' 'Oh that's all a lot of talk in my opinion,' she answered. 'You don't want to pay no attention. Oh me oh my,' she said, 'but isn't it slow for a picnic. Here,' and at this she leant over him, 'let's see if we can't set old Kate goin'.' She picked up a stray bit of spent straw which was lying on his other side then lowered all the upper part of her body down onto his, resting her elbow between him and the sleeping girl. Her mouth was open in a soundless laugh so that he could see the wet scarlet roof as she reached over to tickle Kate's sand-coloured eyebrows. Kate's face twitched. Her arm that was stretched white palm upwards along deep green moss struggled to lift itself as though caught on the surface of a morass. Then still asleep she turned away abrupt till the other cheek showed dented with what she was lain on. She muttered once out loud 'Paddy.' At this Edith burst into giggles bringing her hand still with its bit of straw up to her mouth as, eyes welling, she looked direct into Albert's below her. He lay quiet and yellow in a simper. This brought her up sharp. 'Can't you even have a joke?' she asked. 'Well you're a pretty pair no mistake,' Kate said and yawned. They found she was sitting to rearrange her tow locks. 'Not so comical as you, you believe me,' Edith answered removing herself from off Albert. He turned over onto his stomach again, facing Ireland. 'What have I done now then?' Kate wanted to know. 'Can't a girl treat herself a nap?' 'Forget it dear,' Edith told her. 'I don't know as I want to forget,' Kate replied. 'It's not nice finding people makin' fun of you when you're asleep.' 'It's only what you brought out love,' Edith sweetly said. 'What was that then?' 'You called a name.' 'Is that all,' Kate announced and blushed, which was unusual with her. 'Why from the fuss you two made lain right in each other's arms you'd imagine it might be something serious.' 'We wasn't,' Albert said sharp, twisting his head towards her. His eyes did not seem to see. 'Oh all right let it pass,' Kate replied. Her blush had gone. 'But you can take it from me what I witnessed was sufficient to make them precious children look twite if they'd noticed.' 'Just let 'im be,' Edith said indifferent. 'There's one thing I won't have,' Kate quoted looking with malice at Edith, 'an' that is the children bein' worried by it the little lambs.' Edith gave a short laugh. 'Why who said that?' Albert asked. 'Miss Swift.' 'What for?' he enquired. 'And I say she's an old duck stickin' up for them,' Edith interrupted. They don't want to be bothered with what I witnessed, not yet awhiles any old how. They got plenty of time to learn.' 'You mean what you saw when you called Mrs Jack?' the lad said scornful. 'That old tale?' 'E won't believe it yet,' Kate announced as if delighted. 'Call it a tale if you will,' Edith answered. There's many a time I've wished I hadn't been the one. But you ask Agatha Burch if you disbelieve me. Stark naked she sat up in bed as the day she was born.' 'Get out?' Albert politely said. 'Well she's right Miss Swift is,' Edith added above the boy's head. Their mother's everything to them I should hope? Nor you'd never get 'em to believe if you did tell them. Not like you and someone I could mention.' That's enough,' Kate said violent. 'I've had all I can stomach from...' 'Land's sakes,' Edith called scrambling to her feet, 'will you just look what they're at now all three,' she cried making off at a run down to the ocean. 'Come on,' Kate said, 'give us a kiss when she's not lookin'.' But he would not, did not even bother to reply. Yet the moment Edith came back he rolled over to ask if she had forgotten she had still to return him that gauntlet glove. 'What glove?' she asked as she sat down once more. 'Why the one you had full of eggs it must be six weeks since.' 'I got one or two things of hers when Mrs T. arrives,' she said. 'How's that Edie?' Kate asked opening her gimlet eyes. 'Oh nothing dear, nothing which is to say that concerns