Loving - Henry Green [58]
was a crescent rose reflection. 'Love,' he went on toneless, 'what about you an' me getting married? There I've said it.' 'That'll want thinking over Charley,' she replied at once. Her eyes left his face and with what seemed a quadrupling in depth came following his to rest on those rectangles of warmth alive like blood. From this peat light her great eyes became invested with rose incandescence that was soft and soft and soft. There's none of this love nonsense,' he began again appearing to strain so as not to look at her. 'It's logical dear that's what. You see I thought to get my old mother over out of the bombers.' 'And quite right too,' she answered prompt. 'I'm glad you see it my way,' he took her up. 'Oh honey you don't know what that means.' 'I've always said a wife that can't make a home for her man's mother doesn't merit a place of her own,' she announced gentle. 'Then you don't say no?' he asked glancing her way at last. His white face was shot with green from the lawn. 'I haven't said yes have I?' she countered and looked straight at him, her heart opening about her lips. Seated as she was back to the light he could see only a blinding space for her head framed in dark hair and inhabited by those great eyes on her, fathoms deep. 'No that's right,' he murmured obviously lost. 'I'll need to think over it,' she gently said. Folding hands she returned her gaze into the peat fire. 'She's a good woman,' Raunce began again. 'She worked hard to raise us when dad died. There were six in our family. She had a struggle.' Edith sat on quiet. 'Now we're scattered all over,' he went on. There's only my sister Bell with the old lady these days. There's her to consider,' he said. 'The one working in the gun factory?' she asked. 'That's right,' he replied. Then he waited. 'Well I don't know as she'd need to come to Ireland,' Edith said at last. 'She's got her job all right? I'd hardly reckon to make the change myself if I was in her position.' 'You have it any way you want,' Raunce explained. 'I thought to just mention her that's all. Mrs Charley Raunce,' he announced in educated accents. There you are eh?' He seemed to be gathering confidence. She suddenly got up half turned from him. 'I'm not sayin' one way or the other, Charley. Not yet awhile.' 'But it's not no for a start,' he said, also rising. 'No,' she replied. She began to blush. Seeing this he grinned with an absurd look of sweet pain. 'No,' she went on, 'I don't say I couldn't.' And all at once her mood appeared to change. She whirled about and made a dive at the cushion of the chair she had been using. 'What's more I'll wear this old ring for the engagement,' she crowed, 'oh let me it won't only be for a minute.' He approached doltish while she hooked with her finger in the tear. That's funny,' she said. 'Why it can't have,' she murmured. 'But it has," she announced drawing herself up to look him in the face. 'It's gone,' she said. 'What's gone?' 'Mrs Tennant's ring,' she said. 'It can't have,' he objected. 'Give here,' and he took that cushion, ripped the seam open. 'Must've slipped inside that's about the long and short of it,' he said as he worked. 'I don't know about can't have gone,' she said looking intently at him with something in her voice, 'but it's not there that's all.' He felt round the edges. 'You're right,' he pronounced, 'there's nothing.' 'Yet a ring wouldn't have wings now would it?' she said meaningly. 'Edie,' he said, 'if you think I took that you must consider me worse than the lowest thing which crawls." 'No,' she murmured, 'I don't,' and leant over to give him a light kiss. 'Then you ain't never found nothing, see,' he said putting his arms round her. 'Oh honey...' he began when both heard a car turn towards the Castle over the ha-ha. 'Look sharp,' he brought out as if she had been kissing him. That must be Mrs Tancy,' he said and turned to go. 'Holy smoke,' he added, 'but I can't answer the door dressed as I am.' While Raunce hastened out she went on her knees it might be to make believe she was only in the room to do the fire. His training