Part 98 (2/2)
”And you don't really think the worse of me?”
”I think the more. It's always the good girls who go wrong.”
”That means that you will.”
”I haven't the chance. When girls are plain, like me, men don't notice them, and if they've no money of their own they have to earn a pittance in Melkbridge boot factories.”
”I can't believe it's you, even now.”
”I don't mind giving myself away, since you've done the same to me. And it's a relief to let off steam sometimes.”
”And you really don't think the worse of me for having--having this?”
”I'd do the same myself to-morrow if I'd the chance and could afford to keep it, and knew it wouldn't curse me when it grew up.”
Mavis winced to recover herself and say:
”But I may be married any day now.”
”Whoever the father is, he seems a bit of a fool,” remarked Miss Toombs, as she took the baby on her knee.
”To love me?”
”In not marrying you and getting you for life. From a man's point of view, you're a find, pretty Mavis.”
”Nonsense!”
”I don't call it nonsense. Just look at your figure and your hips and the colour of your hair, your lovely white skin and all, to say nothing of the pa.s.sion in your eyes.”
”Is it staid Miss Toombs talking?”
”If I'm staid, it's because I have to be. No man 'ud ever want me. As for you, if I were a man, I'd go to h.e.l.l, if there were such a place, if I could get you for all my very own.”
”Don't you believe in h.e.l.l?”
”Do you?”
”I don't know. Don't you?”
”The only h.e.l.l I know is the jealous anger in a plain woman's heart. Of course there are others. You've only to dip into history to read of the h.e.l.ls that kings and priests, mostly priests, have made of this earth.”
”What about Providence?” asked Mavis.
”Don't talk that 'tosh' to me,” cried Miss Toombs vehemently.
”But is it 'tosh'?”
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