Loving - Henry Green [64]
she suggested. 'Why I've not said a word,' he began as Edith watched him anxiously and as though disapproving. Then he went on, 'I've not let on about it because I wouldn't have you bothered. We've all of us got our worries with this bombin' over the other side to mention just the one item. So I thought I'll keep it to meself. Your own back's broad enough I said.' 'Thanks I'm sure,' Miss Burch announced, putting a small slice of potato dainty into her mouth. Then she raised a crooked finger as if to scratch under the wig but thought better perhaps for she picked up the fork again. 'There's things occur which you'd never believe,' he went on. 'Now Charley,' Edith said. It was the first time, as Kate's eyes showed, that the girl had called him in public by his Christian name. 'You don't want to bring all that up,' she ended weak. 'Well we're all one family in this place, there's how I see the situation,' he started. Kate began to giggle. But she got no encouragement from Edith. 'We can share,' he continued, still sentimental. 'Now Mrs T. is comin' back she can clear this little matter up. It was something occurred not more than five days ago.' 'No Charley,' Edith interrupted. 'Bless me,' Miss Burch said staring at her, 'if it's known to another it should be known to me I hope.' 'She couldn't help herself,' Raunce put in. 'She was present when 'e called along with my Albert here.' 'Who called?' Miss Burch enquired. 'The I. R. A. man,' Raunce announced as though with an ultimatum. 'Mercy,' Miss Burch exclaimed, 'and are we going to have that old nonsense all over again?' 'Nonsense it may be to you Miss Burch but you'll excuse me, I know different,' he said. 'Then I'd best learn more,' she suggested. 'It was about the ring,' Edith put in. 'That was 'is pretext right enough,' Raunce said, 'that was how he got past Albert here at the door. It was my bandage,' he explained. 'I couldn't answer the bell dressed as I was. So I sent the lad. If it had been me opened the door to him then with my experience I'd've told within a second, like in the twinklin' of an eye,' he said serious. 'Mrs Tennant's ring she mislaid?' Agatha enquired. 'That was no more than the way he chose to put it,' Charley began again when Miss Burch surprisingly broke out as follows. 'Then they'll needs must dig the drains up,' she cried in what seemed to be great agitation, 'I've said so all along now haven't I?' 'Come, come,' Raunce said, 'there's no call to take things that far,' he said and frowned. 'She's always mislayin' possessions.' Paddy spoke. 'What's 'e say?' Raunce asked. 'He says that weren't no I. R. A. man if 'e came to the front door,' translated Kate. They only use the back entrance those gentry he reckons.' 'Hark at 'im,' Raunce announced. 'Well how d'you know he's mistaken?' Kate wanted to be told. 'Now then,' Raunce said to her. 'We don't want none o' your backchat my gel thank you.' 'You leave my girls out of it,' Miss Burch ordered but in a weak voice as though about to faint. 'I told you,' Edith said to her Charley. 'I don't know,' Charley said, 'there's times I can't fathom any one of you an' that's a fact. What is all this?' 'What is all this?' Miss Burch echoed in a shrill voice. 'You ask me that? When you're telling us we've had a I. R. A. man actually call at the Castle?' 'But I thought you were on about the drains.' 'Oh you men,' Miss Burch replied faint once more, 'you will never understand even the simplest thing.' 'It was only an insurance inspector came about the ring,' Edith explained. 'I don't know where Mr Raunce got it he was from the I-R. A. I'm sure,' she said. 'You mean he said that ring was stolen?' Miss Burch cried, plainly beside herself again. 'Not on your life,' Charley took her up. 'You ladies will always jump at conclusions.' 'Well what was he here for then?' Miss Burch enquired. 'Why to see 'ow much his Insurance Company could do about it,' Raunce replied. But Miss Burch, who seemed really agitated, was not having any. 'You said just now he was an I. R. A. man,' she objected quavering. 'Well maybe he was both,' Raunce