Part 62 (2/2)

”Very likely,” said Ann, after a long interval, ”it isn't so bad as you think it is, Artie.”

”It's bad,” said Kipps.

”Very likely, after all, it isn't quite so bad. If there's only a little----”

There came another long silence.

”Ann,” said Kipps in the quiet darkness.

”Yes,” said Ann.

”Ann,” said Kipps, and stopped as though he had hastily shut a door upon speech.

”I kep' thinking,” he said, trying again, ”I kep' thinking--after all--I been cross to you and a fool about things--about them cards, Ann; but”--his voice shook to pieces--”we _'ave_ been 'appy, Ann ... some'ow ... togever.”

And with that he and then she fell into a pa.s.sion of weeping. They clung very tightly together--closer than they had been since ever the first brightness of their married days turned to the grey of common life again.

All the disaster in the world could not prevent their going to sleep at last with their poor little troubled heads close together on one pillow.

There was nothing more to be done, there was nothing more to be thought; Time might go on with his mischiefs, but for a little while at least they still had one another.

--3

Kipps returned from his second interview with Mr. Bean in a state of strange excitement. He let himself in with his latch-key and slammed the door. ”Ann!” he shouted, in an unusual note; ”Ann!”

Ann replied distantly.

”Something to tell you,” said Kipps; ”something noo!”

Ann appeared apprehensive from the kitchen.

”Ann,” he said, going before her into the little dining-room, for his news was too dignified for the pa.s.sage, ”very likely, Ann, o' Bean says, we shall 'ave----” He decided to prolong the suspense. ”Guess!”

”I can't, Artie.”

”Think of a lot of money!”

”A 'undred pounds p'raps?”

He spoke with immense deliberation. ”O v e r a f o u s a n d p o u n d s!”

Ann stared and said nothing, only went a shade whiter.

”Over, he said. A'most certainly over.”

He shut the dining-room door and came forward hastily, for Ann, it was clear, meant to take this mitigation of their disaster with a complete abandonment of her self-control. She came near flopping; she fell into his arms.

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