Part 62 (1/2)
”You poor little thing, you--shaking like a leaf! Lead the way; but not so fast, little lady--you'll give out.”
She cried and laughed her relief and dragged him across the sidewalk; and every step up the two flights she struggled to keep her hysterical voice within the veil of a whisper.
”Just say everythin' right after me. You--you're my young man and real sweet on me; and we're going to get--you know; everythin' is goin' to be fine, and my little brother's going to the Electric Inst.i.tute, and everythin's goin' to be swell. Be right lovin' to her, sir--she's so sick. Oh, Gawd, I--”
”Don't cry, little girl.”
”I ain't cryin'.”
”Careful; don't stumble.”
”Don't _you_ stumble. Can you see? The landing's so dark.”
”Yes; I can see by the s.h.i.+ne of your hair, little lady.”
”'Sh-h-h-h!”
The door stood open at the angle she had left it, and by proxy of the slab of mirror over the mantelpiece she could see her mother's head propped against her brother's gold-braided shoulder, and the bright eyes s.h.i.+ning out like a gazelle's in the dark.
”Essie?”
”We are here, ma--me and Joe.” She threw a last appeal over her shoulder and led the way into the bedroom; her companion followed, stooping to accommodate his height to the doorway.
”Ma dearie, this is Joe.”
”Joe! It ain't like me, Joe, not to get up; but I just ain't got the strength--to-night, Joe.”
He bent his six-feet-two over the bed and smiled at her from close range.
”Well, well, well! So this is ma dear, dearie?”
”That's her, Joe.”
”This won't do one bit, ma. Me and the little lady's got to get you cured up in a hurry--don't we, little lady?”
”Ma dearie, Joe's been wantin' and wantin' to come for so long.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: SHE HELD UP A HAND AS LIGHT AS A LEAF, AND HE TOOK IT IN A WIDE, GENTLE CLASP THAT ENVELOPED IT]
”For so long I been wantin' to come, ma dearie; but--”
”But he's so bashful. Ain't you, Joe? Bashful as a banshee.”
”Bashful ain't no name for me, ma. I'd shy at a baby.”
”Honest, ma dearie, he's as shy as anything.”
”If I wasn't, wouldn't I have been up to see my little lady's mother long ago--wouldn't I? Ain't you going to shake hands with me, ma dearie?”
She held up a hand as light as a leaf, and he took it in a wide, gentle clasp that enveloped it.