Part 34 (2/2)
The three of them sat there silently.
The girl was the first to move.
”Ah, but it is hot in here.” She pushed her chair back from the table.
”It is uncomfortable!”
The boy and the woman got to their feet.
”I'll pack, Maman. Not much, you know. Just my shaving things and soap, and some underwear. Angele will help me. I won't be long.”
He went out of the kitchen door and down the narrow pa.s.sage way to his room. The girl hesitated for a moment. Without a word she hurried after him.
The woman crossed slowly into the next room. For a second she stood beside the table, and then she walked over to the window.
Outside the street was dark. No light trickled through the blinds of the house opposite. No light reached its brilliant electric flare into the sky. No light from the tall lamp-post specked through the gloom. In the dim shadow of the silent street she could see the vague forms of people going to and fro. Blurred figures moving in the darkness with the echo of their footsteps trailing sharply behind them.
She stood quite still. Once her hands crept up to her mouth, the backs of them pressing against her teeth.
”Maman.”
She wheeled about at the sound of Jean's voice.
He was standing just within the doorway, the girl at his side. The woman stood there staring. The girl crossed the room quickly and put her arm about the woman's waist, drawing her close.
”Pet.i.te Maman--”
”You--go--now--Jean?”
She said the words carefully and precisely with a tremendous effort for control.
”But, yes, Maman!”
She leaned a little against the girl.
”Mon Jean, you will have courage--; great--courage--my little one, you will be protected. You--will--be--protected!” She had said that in spite of herself.
He came to her then and flung his arms about her and kissed her on either cheek, and held her tightly to him.
”Good-by, pet.i.te Maman.”
”Good--” She could not say it.
”Good-by, Angele.”
”My little rabbit--I wish you luck. My cabbage--au revoir--;” and her lips brushed across his mouth.
For a second he did not move. Then he went across the room and out through the door.
<script>