Part 8 (1/2)
”Naught as yer can understand, Aggie.”
”Let's get tea,” said Agnes. She started up and made vigorous preparations. Soon the tea was served and placed upon the little centre-table. It was an excellent tea, with shrimps and bread-and-b.u.t.ter, and cake and jam. Agnes ate enormously, but Connie was not as hungry as usual.
”Prime, I call it!” said Agnes. ”My word! to think of gettin' all this and not workin' a bit for it! You be in luck, Connie Harris--you be in luck.”
When the meal was over, and Agnes had washed up and made the place tidy, she announced her intention of going to sleep.
”I'm dead-tired,” she said, ”and swallerin' sech a fillin' meal have made me drowsy. But I ha' the key in my pocket, so don't you be trying that little gime o'running away.”
Agnes slept, and snored in her sleep, and Connie restlessly walked to the window and looked out. When Big Ben sounded again her eyes filled with tears. She had never spent such a long and dismal evening in her life.
Mammy Warren did not return home until between ten and eleven o'clock.
Immediately on her arrival, Agnes took her departure. Mammy Warren then locked the door, and having provided herself with a stiff gla.s.s of whisky-and-water, desired Connie to hurry off to bed.
”Yer'll be losing yer purty sleep,” she said, ”and then where'll yer be?”
The next day Connie again walked abroad with Mrs. Warren. Once more she was dressed in the dark-blue costume, with her golden hair hanging in a great fleece down her back. But when she made her appearance without the little blue handkerchief, Mrs. Warren sent her back for it.
”I know wot I'm about,” she said. ”The blue in the 'andkercher'll add to the blue in yer eyes. Pop it on, gel, and be quick.”
Connie obeyed.
”I don't--want to,” she said.
”And _w'y_ don't yer?”
The woman's voice was very fierce.
”I'm somehow sort o' feared.”
”Take that for bein' sort o' feared,” said Mrs. Warren; and she hit the child so fierce a blow on the arm that Connie cried out from the pain.
Poor Connie was a very timorous creature, however, and the effect of the blow was to make her meek and subservient. The blue handkerchief was tied on and arranged to Mrs. Warren's satisfaction, and they both went out into the open air.
They went by 'bus to quite a different part of the town on this occasion, and Mrs. Warren again a.s.sured her little companion that she had a great deal of shopping to get through.
”That is why I wear this cloak,” she said; ”I ha' bags fastened inside to hold the things as I buy.”
Once again they got into a crowd, and once again Connie was desired to walk on a little way in front, and once again people turned to look at the slim, fair child with her beautiful face and lovely hair. Once more they entered several shops, and invariably chose the most crowded parts--so crowded that Mrs. Warren whispered to Connie:
”We must wait till our turn, honey. We must ha' patience, dearie.”
They had patience. Mrs. Warren did absolutely purchase half-a-dozen very coa.r.s.e pocket-handkerchiefs, keeping Connie close to her all the time.
One of these she straightway presented to the girl, saying in a loud voice as she did so to the attendant:
”I'm out with the purty dear to give her exercise. I am her nurse. She mustn't walk too far. No, thank you, mum, I'll carry the 'andkerchers 'ome myself; I won't trouble yer to send them to Portland Mansions.--Now, come along, my dear; we mustn't waste our time in this 'ot shop. We must be hout, taking of our exercise.”
They walked a very, very long way that morning, and Mrs. Warren, contrary to her yesterday's plan, did now and then expend a few pence.
Whenever she did so she drew the shop people's attention to Connie, speaking of her as her charge, and a ”dear, delicate young lydy,” and begging of the people to be quick, as ”'ot air” was so bad for the dear child; and invariably she refused to allow a parcel to be sent to Portland Mansions, saying that she preferred to carry it. At last, however, she seemed to think that Connie had had sufficient exercise, and they went home from the corner of Tottenham Court Road on the top of a 'bus.