Loving

'So you got it,' he yelled, 'you got what? I got it,' he shrieked in falsetto. 'And you can have at that. 'Ere you are then 'and over.' He came at Albert who seemed paralysed. 'Where is it then?' he cried like an epileptic as he shook him. 'Where is it?' Albert's head swung back and forth, his yellow shock of hair flopping. But the lad kept silent.

'That's enough Charley,' Edith said. 'He's never had it.'

'But 'e might 'ave,' Raunce answered desisting. His rages never lasted. '

'E's capable of anything that lad is. Why there was none spoke to 'im. I don't suppose there was one of us in this room remembered 'is presence. An' then what must 'e go an' do. Why bless my soul if 'e doesn't feel the need to sing out 'e's got the miserable object. Holy Moses,' Charley ended, apparently in better humour. 'But that was smart of you love to think that one up. It was you had the idea all right. Now don't start snivellin',' he said to Albert who began to cry in the painful way boys do when they are too old for tears.

'Charley,' she said, 'what did that mean when 'e said his company wouldn't even pay.'

Mr Raunce explained. Albert's sobs grew louder but they paid no attention.

'Then that's awkward Charley. I mean it may come back on Mrs Tennant.'

'Well she's lost so much, girl, I shouldn't wonder if the Insurance Company would never take her on a second time. Once one refuses her I don't suppose she'll get any to insure her jewellery again. That's the way it goes.'

'Yes but look here then that's serious that is Charley.'

'Serious you bet the thing is serious,' he replied. 'But you wait until I get this lad of mine to meself. Just give me two minutes alone with him.'

'Oh him,' she said indifferent, 'don't trouble your mind over him.'

'And why wouldn't I when 'e knows? My God what an afternoon.'

'He never took it,' she told him without so much as a glance at Albert. 'He did what he done for me. He thought that inspector was makin' out I'd had it.'

'He what?'

'He was,' she said. Albert sobbed suddenly unrestrained as though somehow he had come unstoppered. 'You don't understand these things, I do,' she said. Then she bent down. Before Raunce's eyes she kissed the lad's cheek. 'There, thanks kid,' she said. But Albert, not looking, made a move to strike her away without however hitting her.

'Did you see what 'e done then?' Raunce asked low. 'I'll learn 'im.'

'Let him be dearest,' she advised and the boy ran out. Raunce shut the door Albert had left open.

'Well I don't know,' he began, taking her by the shoulders. She looked into his face. 'The dirty tyke,' he said. 'But we got to find it.'

'All right,' she replied, 'an' I'm goin' to start with my Miss Moira. You go off, I'll handle this best alone. And don't you lay hands on that Albert. It's the other I have my suspicions of,' she ended.

When Raunce was gone she went to the window. She called the child.

The little girl came running, stood moist in the sun before Edith.

'Where've you been Miss Moira?' She asked sweet.

'Why out by the dovecote Edith.'

'Look at you then,' Edith scolded gently and squatted down. 'Just see the state you're in. You'll be landin' me in such trouble if you don't take good care when your grandma gets back.'

'Is grandma coming?'

'She is that,' Edith said smiling as she began to clear up the child's glowing face with her own grubby handkerchief.

'Is mummy too?'

'I couldn't say love. Whatever've you been at to get in such a state?'

'I hope mummy doesn't come.'

'Hark at you,' Edith said letting it go.

'I do. 'Cos that Captain Davenport will be over all the time when she does.'

'Hush dear,' Edith said sharp, 'someone'll hear. And you shouldn't mention such a thing even to your own Edith.'

'I don't like him.'

'It's not for us to like or not like. You're too little.'

'Darling Edith why are you looking so excited?'

Edith giggled. 'Am I?' she asked, wiping away at stains on Miss Moira's deep blue skirt.

'You should see yourself.'

'Well I expect I've had a day and a half. But what've you been up to? That's what I want to be told thanks.'

'Edith why are you?'

'Can you keep secrets ducky?' Edith asked in reply.

'A secret oo how lovely,' Miss Moira exclaimed.

'I don't suppose you know how.'

'Oh I promise. Let my lips be sealed,' the child said. May I drop dead she added to herself.

'Well then. Only don't breathe to nobody mind. Your Edith's had a proposal.'

'Oh Edith has Albert at last? And are you going to marry him?'

Edith put the handkerchief away and kissed her.

'There that's better,' she said.

'Do tell,' the child pleaded warm.

'One secret for another,' Edith announced. 'You say what you've been along of.'

'Will you marry him then?'

'Look I've told you my secret. Now you come out with yours. Fair's fair,' Edith said.

'We've been with Albert.'

'That's no secret.'

'It was.'

'What's dark about that then?' Edith wanted to know.

'He's got my grandma's ring. The one she lost.'

'Has he so? And what's he done with it?' Edith enquired casual.

'I don't know,' the little girl lied, on account of dropping dead perhaps.

'Which Albert, yours or mine?' Edith asked soft.

'Mine,' Miss Moira answered. 'Oh I do love him.'

'Are you goin' to be married?'

'Of course.'

'Isn't that lovely,' Edith said. 'But what's he been up to with that ring meantime?' she went on carefully disinterested.

'I don't know, honest I don't,' the child lied once more. And Edith let it go. And the day laden with sunshine, with the noise of bees broke in upon their silence. There was a sharp smell of geraniums.

'Well I must be off now,' Miss Moira said. She ran away stepping high.

'I don't know,' Charley grumbled good natured again at Albert in the pantry as the lad washed his face, 'I don't rightly know what to make of you an' that's a fact. Speakin' out of turn like you did. There's times I ask myself if you'll ever learn.'

'I'm sorry Mr Raunce.'

'That's O. K. my lad,' said Charley unexpectedly mild. To-day of all days I wouldn't wish to have a disagreement with nobody. But you must use your best endeavours. 'Owever hard it may seem to keep mum for 'eaven's sake keep mum. That's your place and in a manner of speakin' it's mine. You've no knowledge of this ring, nor I have, we none of us know. What's more it's no concern of ours. When Mrs T. made a rumpus soon as she first lost it well then it was up to anyone she spoke to to make a search. She's always puttin' things down where she can't find 'em. But after the first upset let sleepin' dogs lie. D'you get me?'

'Yes Mr Raunce.'

'It did your heart credit to speak up when you did, mind. But you'll discover it don't pay to have a heart on most occasions. Anyway not with a man of his stamp. Where did 'e say 'e come from? What's 'is trade card?'

Albert picked up the man's bit of pasteboard and handed it to Charley.

'Not with wet fingers,' Mr Raunce began again. '

'Ow many times do I have to tell you, wipe your hands when you pass anything and clean your teeth before you have to do with a woman. Holy Jesus', he sang out without warning, 'holy Moses,' he corrected himself, 'what's this?'

'What's the matter Mr Raunce?'

'Why the Insurance Company. I knew it all along. See 'ere. "Irish Regfna Assurance." Don't you read that the way I do.'

'No Mr Raunce.'

'Why spell me out those letters. Irish Regina Assurance. I. R. A. boy. So 'e was one of their scouts, must a' been.'

'I. R. A.?'

'Where's my girl?' Raunce asked and dashed out.

A few days passed. Then one morning while they were at their dinner in the servants' hall that telephone began to ring away in the pantry. Albert came back with a message he had written out in block letters.

'Returning Monday, Tennant,' Raunce read aloud into a silence. 'Well thank God for it,' he added, 'and about time if you ask me.'