Part 134 (2/2)

”You can have the penny. That's not bad for one year's work. Is that and a hundred and twenty pounds a year good enough?”

The idleness and the pretty clothes were almost within her reach now, but she must, by being housewifely, show that she deserved them.

”Yes; but you'd have to move, and if we took an inventory, I think we'd find that Mr. Beeton has been prigging little things out of the rooms here and there. They don't look as full as they used.”

”Never mind, we'll let him have them. The only thing I'm particularly anxious to take away is that picture I used you for--when you used to swear at me. We'll pull out of this place, Bess, and get away as far as ever we can.”

”Oh yes,” she said uneasily.

”I don't know where I can go to get away from myself, but I'll try, and you shall have all the pretty frocks that you care for. You'll like that. Give me that kiss now, Bess. Ye G.o.ds! it's good to put one's arm round a woman's waist again.”

Then came the fulfilment of the prophecy within the brain. If his arm were thus round Maisie's waist and a kiss had just been given and taken between them,--why then... He pressed the girl more closely to himself because the pain whipped him. She was wondering how to explain a little accident to the Melancolia. At any rate, if this man really desired the solace of her company--and certainly he would relapse into his original slough if she withdrew it--he would not be more than just a little vexed.

It would be delightful at least to see what would happen, and by her teachings it was good for a man to stand in certain awe of his companion.

She laughed nervously, and slipped out of his reach.

”I shouldn't worrit about that picture if I was you,” she began, in the hope of turning his attention.

”It's at the back of all my canvases somewhere. Find it, Bess; you know it as well as I do.”

”I know--but--”

”But what? You've wit enough to manage the sale of it to a dealer.

Women haggle much better than men. It might be a matter of eight or nine hundred pounds to--to us. I simply didn't like to think about it for a long time. It was mixed up with my life so.--But we'll cover up our tracks and get rid of everything, eh? Make a fresh start from the beginning, Bess.”

Then she began to repent very much indeed, because she knew the value of money. Still, it was probable that the blind man was overestimating the value of his work. Gentlemen, she knew, were absurdly particular about their things. She giggled as a nervous housemaid giggles when she tries to explain the breakage of a pipe.

”I'm very sorry, but you remember I was--I was angry with you before Mr.

Torpenhow went away?”

”You were very angry, child; and on my word I think you had some right to be.”

”Then I--but aren't you sure Mr. Torpenhow didn't tell you?”

”Tell me what? Good gracious, what are you making such a fuss about when you might just as well be giving me another kiss?”

He was beginning to learn, not for the first time in his experience, that kissing is a c.u.mulative poison. The more you get of it, the more you want.

Bessie gave the kiss promptly, whispering, as she did so, ”I was so angry I rubbed out that picture with the turpentine. You aren't angry, are you?”

”What? Say that again.” The man's hand had closed on her wrist.

”I rubbed it out with turps and the knife,” faltered Bessie. ”I thought you'd only have to do it over again. You did do it over again, didn't you? Oh, let go of my wrist; you're hurting me.”

”Isn't there anything left of the thing?”

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