Part 55 (1/2)
”--And your lovely daddie?”
Silence.
”--Because I know they couldn't enjoy themselves at the theatre, or go to sleep to-night, or anything, if you didn't. But of course, you did.
Good-night, sweetness--give a kiss.”
”G'night!” The little figure bounced up and put its arms round her and kissed her all over her face. Poppy tucked her in carefully.
”I'm so glad you prayed for mummie and daddie and me,” she said fervently. ”Good-night, darling-pet.”
”G'night.”
”You don't have the candle left, do you?”
”No.”
”Shall I put the mosquito-curtain round?”
”Yes, please.”
Poppy flicked it well with her handkerchief and arranged it round the bed like a big, white bird-cage; then taking the candle in her hand, walked slowly to the door.
”Well, good-night.”
”G'night.”
She opened the door and went out slowly.
At the last conceivable instant, as the door was on the point of closing, a little voice cried:
”Poppy!”
”Yes, sweetness.”
”I want a drink of water.”
Poppy went back, poured a gla.s.s of water, and carried it to the delinquent, who took a mouthful; then said, slowly and sorrowfully:
”I think I'll say prairses, Poppy.”
”All right darling!” She sat down on the bed again and put her arms round the slim figure, who, kneeling with her nose snuggled into the soft, white shoulder, said her ”prairses” at express-speed down into Poppy's evening-gown:
”Gen-tuljeesus, meek n' mil', Lookup pon a little chil'; Pitimysimplisitee, Suffer me t' come to Thee.
”Our Fath 'CHART in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy King and come, Thy will be done 'Nearth as 'tis 'Neaven. Give us 's day our _DAILY BREAD_ N' forgive us our trespa.s.ses 'gainst us. But 'liver us from evil. For Thine's kingdom, Power and GLORY, frever and ever, Amen.
”Our Father, please bless my darling Mummie, and take care of her at the theatre, and my lovely Daddie, _and_ Grannie, _and_ Grandad, _and_ Poppy, _and_ all the servants in _this_ house, _and_ all the little children in the world, _and_ fill our hearts with love 'n kindness, Amen--now I must say my _Latins_.”
Clem was Catholic and Bill Protestant, and the result was a strange medley of prayers for Cinthie. She kneeled up, crossed herself solemnly in Latin, and began to chant the lovely words of the Angelical Salutation:
”_Ave Maria! gratia plena, Dominus tec.u.m: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus._”