Part 24 (1/2)

Instantly the shadow fell from Mr. Triggs's face and he turned upon Patricia and beamed, pressing her hand against his side. Then with another sudden change he said, ”'Ettie annoys me when she's like that; but I've given 'er something to think about,” he added, pleased at the recollection of his parting shot.

Patricia smiled at him, she never made any endeavour to probe into the domestic difficulties of the Triggs-Bonsor menage.

”Do you know what I told 'er?” enquired Mr. Triggs.

Patricia shook her head.

”I said that if she wasn't careful I'd engage you as my own secretary.

That made 'er sit up.” He chuckled at the thought of his master-stroke.

”But you've got nothing for me to secretary, Mr. Triggs,” said Patricia, not quite understanding where the joke came.

”Ah! 'Ettie understands. 'Ettie knows that every man that ain't married marries 'is secretary, and she's dead afraid of me marrying.”

”Am I to take that as a proposal, Mr. Triggs?” asked Patricia demurely.

Mr. Triggs chuckled.

”Now we'll forget about everything except that we are truants,” cried Patricia. ”I've earned a holiday, I think. On Sunday and Monday there was Aunt Adelaide, yesterday it was national importance of pigs and----”

”Hi! Hi! Taxi! Taxi!” Mr. Triggs yelled, das.h.i.+ng forward and dragging Patricia after him. A taxi was crossing a street about twenty yards distance. Mr. Triggs was impulsive in all things.

Having secured the taxi and handed Patricia in, he told the man to drive to the Zoo, and sank back with a sigh of pleasure.

”Now we're going to 'ave a very 'appy afternoon, me dear,” he said.

”Don't you worry about pigs.”

Arrived at the Zoo, Mr. Triggs made direct for the monkey-house.

Patricia, a little puzzled at his choice, followed obediently. Arrived there he walked round the cages, looking keenly at the animals.

Finally selecting a little monkey with a blue face, he pointed it out to Patricia.

”They was just like that little chap,” he said eagerly. ”That one over there, see 'im eating a nut?”

”Yes, I see him,” said Patricia; ”but who was just like him?”

”I'll tell you when we get outside. Now come along.”

Patricia followed Mr. Triggs, puzzled to account for his strange manner and sudden lack of interest in the monkey-house. They walked along for some minutes in silence, then, when they came to a quiet spot, Mr.

Triggs turned to Patricia.

”You see, me dear,” he said, ”it was there that I asked her.”

”That you asked who what?” enquired Patricia, utterly at a loss.

”You see we'd been walking out for nearly a year; I was a foreman then.

I 'ad tickets given me for the Zoo one Sunday, so I took 'er. When we was in the monkey-house there was a couple of little chaps just like that blue-faced little beggar we saw just now.” There was a note of affection in Mr. Triggs's voice as he spoke of the little blue-faced monkey. ”And one of 'em 'ad 'is arm round the other and was a-making love to 'er as 'ard as ever 'e could go,” continued Mr. Triggs. ”And I says to Emily, just to see 'ow she'd take it, 'That might be you an'

me, Emily,' and she blushed and looked down, and then of course I knew, and I asked 'er to marry me. I don't think either of us 'ad cause to regret it,” added the old man huskily. ”G.o.d knows I 'adn't.”

Patricia felt that she wanted both to laugh and to cry. She could say nothing, words seemed so hopelessly inadequate.