Loving - Henry Green [67]
with his feet on the other chair, he awoke with a start. 'Why me love here I am,' he remarked as if to say you see I don't come out of a good sleep bad-tempered. 'It's me that's worried now all right,' she announced. 'How's that?' he asked. 'They won't tell where they've hid the ring.' He was wide awake at once. 'You're certain they've got it?' 'I know that for sure,' she answered, 'Miss Moira wouldn't lie to me.' 'You give me just five minutes alone with young Albert.' 'No dear,' she said, 'we don't want more trouble with Mrs Welch.' 'Just five minutes. That's all I need.' 'It won't do dear. If only I had more time. But she'll be back Monday.' 'Mrs Tennant you mean?' he asked. 'Well all I can say is if 'er own grandchildren have took it the little thieves I don't see what she can say to us.' 'Then what were you on about when you came out at dinnertime that if we couldn't discover the ring we'd never get another place in Ireland?' 'Did I say that?' 'You did dear,' she told him. 'An' you went on that they'd clap you in the Army soon as ever you stepped off the boat over in Britain.' 'Look,' he said, 'don't you worry your head. We'll think of a way. Of course it would be best if we found where they've 'id it particularly after the visit we've been paid. That's what I must've intended. It has made things more awkward that man turning up. And then Albert sayin' what 'e did. And now he wants to go and be killed just to get his own back for speaking out of turn I shouldn't wonder.' 'No Charley you don't understand.' 'I don't. That's a fact. I never will I shouldn't be surprised. But I'll say this. You'll live to regret having a kid like that fallen in love over you.' 'He's not,' she lied, it may have been to protect the lad. 'And they say nothing gets past a woman,' Raunce said heavy. 'Why it stands out a mile he is.' 'You're imaginin' Charley,' she said soft. 'Imagining my eye,' he replied. 'But if 'e just wanted to fight for the old country I could agree with the lad.' She sat up. 'You mean to say you're even considerin' such a step?' she asked. He answered in a low voice. 'I'm bewitched and bewildered I am really,' he said. 'I don't know what I'm after.' 'Thanks I'm sure,' was her bitter comment. 'Here wait a minute, not so fast,' he exclaimed and leaning forward he got hold of one of her hands on the arm of the other chair. 'Don't get me wrong,' he said. That's dam all to do with you an' me.' 'And your old mother you were so keen to get over?' Edith wanted to know. 'Oh her,' Raunce answered. There was a miserable pause. Then Edith began again, 'Then what did you intend a week or two back when you made out our place was where we are now and Miss Burch said that about blocking the roads? The time Paddy got the wrong side of you?' 'I expect I had in mind what they told us in the newspapers about stayin' put where you happen to be in an invasion.' 'You don't sound very sure,' she said. 'It's Albert,' he explained. 'My Albert to want to do a thing like that. Why it's almost as if 'e was me own son.' 'I wish he could hear you now after the way you bawl him out.' 'Me?' Raunce said, 'Why I just give him the rough side of my tongue on occasion so that he'll learn a trade,' he said. 'Here give us a kiss,' he added smiling at last. This time she actually got up in haste and did no less than sit on his knee. 'You don't love me,' she murmured. When he kissed her she kissed him back with such passion, all of her hard as a board, that he flopped back flabbergasted, having caught a glimpse of what was in her waiting for him. When the other Albert came to the kitchen for his tea that same afternoon he found Mrs Welch asleep with her head on the massive table. Labouring she lifted heavy bloodshot eyes in his direction. 'Well?' she asked. 'I been out,' he answered sly. 'Out where?' 'We was round the back,' he said. 'And who's we?' she wanted to know as she scratched a vast soft thigh. She gave a wide yawn. 'The young leddies,' he replied. He passed a hand over his forehead as if he could tidy his hair with that one gesture and came to sit quiet