Loving - Henry Green [71]
make them say a word.' Came a knock on the door. 'This is it.' And Miss Moira entered. 'Oh hullo Mr Raunce,' the child said, standing as though uncertain. 'Hullo Miss Moira,' he said very loud. 'Are you come about our secret?' Edith asked. The little girl nodded. 'Then you can tell in front of Mr Raunce, he's in it along with us,' she explained. But Miss Moira stood hands behind her back, shifting from one foot to the other, and looked from Raunce to Edith then back again. 'Tell Edith,' the maid gently persuaded. 'I got it,' Miss Moira piped at last. 'You got what darlin'?' Edith asked through Raunce's heavy breathing. 'Why your wedding present of course,' the child replied. 'Just what you said you wanted. But from me, not from Evelyn or Albert. It's my special present,' she explained. 'Oh isn't that kind,' Edith exclaimed softly. 'When can I see it?' 'Here,' the child said. And she whipped out another of Mrs Ten-nant's rings heavy with uncut rubies worth perhaps two hundred pounds. 'Christ,' Raunce muttered half under his breath. Edith let the thing drop through her fingers and began to cry. Her crying was genuine, even became noisy. 'Now Miss Moira if I was you I'd run along,' Raunce began, stepping awkwardly up to Edith. But Edith clutched his arm in such a grip he took it for a warning. Then she held her arms out blind to the child who ran into them. 'Why darling Edith don't cry,' she said, 'darling don't, darling.' 'It's Albert,' Edith wailed, 'Albert and me'd set our hearts on the blue one.' 'Then why ever didn't you say?' Miss Moira asked with her lips at Edith's ear. 'I won't be a minute.' 'You'll take this one back,' Edith said beginning to recover. 'You won't let your grandma know it's been missed.' Miss Moira grabbed the ruby ring. 'Of course not,' she said. 'She's about this minute, Miss Moira. You'll never let her catch sight of you?' Raunce asked. Edith clutched his arm again so that he kept silent. 'You do fuss so,' the child pouted. 'Goodbye for now.' 'And you'll let me have my blue one?' Edith begged. 'We've made our minds up to have that, honest we have dear.' 'Don't be so terribly impatient,' Miss Moira replied reproving. 'I told you I won't be a minute. And it's a great lot to do for anyone even if it is a wedding present,' she added as though bitter, and then was gone. 'Oh my Christ,' Raunce uttered, 'did you ever know the like?' 'Hush dear don't swear everything'll come right in a jiffy,' Edith answered as she began to dry her face. 'But where did the child come across those rubies?' 'Where else but in Mrs T.'s room,' Raunce answered gloomy. 'Even when she goes over to London they lie there open in a drawer. Will that child bring the blue one d'you suppose?' 'It's all right now don't worry,' Edith said. 'I hope,' he said. 'An' so that's what you told Miss Moira,' he went on. 'You're deep you are. Which Albert is it you're goin' to be wife to? Mine or Mrs Welch's?' 'Don't be silly it was yours I told her of course.' 'I don't get that,' he pointed out. 'I mean I don't see the reason.' 'I had to so she could understand. I've been obliged to do a lot I didn't like.' 'Women are deep,' he said. He bent down and kissed her. She put her arms slack about his neck. She did not kiss him. He straightened up. 'And now where are we?' he asked beginning to pace up and down. 'Before we're much older we'll be caught with all her bloody jewellery in this room red 'anded.' 'Be quiet,' Edith said. 'Ring or no ring I don't aim for Mrs Ten-nant to find me if she thought to come through this way to the kitchen. But it'll be all right now you'll see. Miss Moira'll fetch the right ring this time. I worship that child,' she added. Raunce halted when he heard this. He looked at her almost in alarm. After she had done with Charley's Albert Mrs Tennant went straight upstairs, took off her hat, washed her hands, murmured to herself 'better get it over,' came down again and went to the kitchen by a way which did not lead through the pantry. The cook lumbered to her feet on Mrs Tennant's entry. 'Well mum I do 'ope you had a enjoyable