Part 21 (2/2)

Before Jimmy could complete his threat, there was a sharp ring of the door bell. He looked at the two women inquiringly.

”It's the mother,” cried Zoie in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.

”The mother!” repeated Jimmy in terror and he glanced uncertainly from one door to the other.

”Cover up the baby!” called Zoie, and drawing Jimmy's overcoat quickly from his arm, Aggie threw it hurriedly over the cradle.

For an instant Jimmy remained motionless in the centre of the room, hatless, coatless, and shorn of ideas. A loud knock on the door decided him and he sank with trembling knees behind the nearest armchair, just as Zoie made a flying leap into the bed and prepared to draw the cover over her head.

The knock was repeated and Aggie signalled to Zoie to answer it.

”Come in!” called Zoie very faintly.

CHAPTER XIX

From his hiding-place Jimmy peeped around the edge of the armchair and saw what seemed to be a large clothes basket entering the room. Closer inspection revealed the small figure of Maggie, the washerwoman's daughter, propelling the basket, which was piled high with freshly laundered clothing. Jimmy drew a long sigh of relief, and unknotted his cramped limbs.

”Shall I lay the things on the sofa, mum?” asked Maggie as she placed her basket on the floor and waited for Zoie's instructions.

”Yes, please,” answered Zoie, too exhausted for further comment.

Taking the laundry piece by piece from the basket, Maggie made excuses for its delay, while she placed it on the couch. Deaf to Maggie's chatter, Zoie lay back languidly on her pillows; but she soon heard something that lifted her straight up in bed.

”Me mother is sorry she had to kape you waitin' this week,” said Maggie over her shoulder; ”but we've got twins at OUR house.”

”Twins!” echoed Zoie and Aggie simultaneously. Then together they stared at Maggie as though she had been dropped from another world.

Finding attention temporarily diverted from himself, Jimmy had begun to rearrange both his mind and his cravat when he felt rather than saw that his two persecutors were regarding him with a steady, determined gaze.

In spite of himself, Jimmy raised his eyes to theirs.

”Twins!” was their laconic answer.

Now, Jimmy had heard Maggie's announcement about the bountiful supply of offspring lately arrived at her house, but not until he caught the fanatical gleam in the eyes of his companions did he understand the part they meant him to play in their next adventure. He waited for no explanation--he bolted toward the door.

”Wait, Jimmy,” commanded Aggie. But it was not until she had laid firm hold of him that he waited.

Surprised by such strange behaviour on the part of those whom she considered her superiors, Maggie looked first at Aggie, then at Jimmy, then at Zoie, uncertain whether to go or to stay.

”Anythin' to go back, mum?” she stammered.

Zoie stared at Maggie solemnly from across the foot of the bed.

”Maggie,” she asked in a deep, sepulchral tone, ”where do you live?”

”Just around the corner on High Street, mum,” gasped Maggie. Then, keeping her eyes fixed uneasily on Zoie she picked up her basket and backed cautiously toward the door.

”Wait!” commanded Zoie; and Maggie paused, one foot in mid-air. ”Wait in the hall,” said Zoie.

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