Part 18 (1/2)
”My daddy gave my mummy her watch on her birthday,” said the little boy.
”Who gave you your watch?”
”It wasn't your daddy, dear.”
”Of course it wasn't my daddy.”
”Of course not.”
”What is your name?”
”My name is Mrs. Tailleur.”
”Mrs. Ty-loor. My name is Stanley. That gentleman's name is Mr. Lucy. I like him.”
Lucy came down and seated himself beside her. She made him a sign with her mouth, as much as to say she was under a charm and he wasn't to break it.
”Do you like him, Mrs. Tyloor?”
”Well--what do you think?”
”I think you like him very much.”
Mrs. Tailleur laughed softly.
”What makes you laugh?”
”You. You're so funny.”
”_You're_ funny. Your eyelashes curl up when you laugh, and your eyes curl, too. And your mouth!” he crowed with the joy of it. ”Such a funny mouth.”
The mouth hid itself in the child's soft neck among his hair. The woman in the bureau saw that, and her face became curiously contracted.
”I remember the day you came. My daddy said you was very pretty.”
”And what did your mummy say?”
Kitty had caught sight of the fierce face in the window, and a little daring devil had entered into her.
”Mummy said she couldn't tell if she wasn't allowed to look.”
”And why,” said Lucy, ”wasn't she allowed to look?”
”Daddy said she wasn't to.”
”Of course he did,” said Lucy. ”It's very rude to look at people.”
”Daddy looked. I saw him.”
The door of the bureau opened and the manager's wife came out. She had a slight flush on her face and her mouth was tighter than ever.