Loving

'First you blow hot then you blow cold,' Edith said and snuffled.

'Blow hot then cold?'

'One minute you say the Jerries are comin' over,' she complained, 'and next you won't have a body try to get over home while there's time.'

He pulled gently on her arm. 'Come and sit by father,' he said.

'Me?' she said in a brighter voice. 'What d'you take me for?'

'That's better,' he said although she was still standing there. 'The trouble with you is you take everything so dead serious.'

'And how do you view things for the matter of that?' she enquired.

'Here,' he replied, 'we don't want you jumpin' on me into the bargain. No me,' he went on, 'I take things to 'eart.'

'Yes?' she said and sat down as though bemused.

'I take things right down inside me girl,' he said putting an arm lightly round her. 'When I feel whatever it is I feel it deep. I'm not like some,' he was going on when she turned her face so that he looked into her eyes which seemed now to have a curve of laughter in their brimming light.

'Oh baby,' he said, reached out with his face. He might have been about to kiss her. She twisted slightly, came out with a 'now then,' and he ceased. 'Look,' he went on and put his other arm round her waist so that he had her in a hoop of himself and was obliged to lean awkwardly to do this. 'Look,' he said again, 'it's what is to happen to you I can't get out of my system, that I think of all the time.'

'And so you should,' she said.

'What's that?' he asked and began to pull at her. She put one hand loose on his nearest arm, holding it between a small finger and thumb.

'Well,' she answered looking away at the rain through that pointed window so that he could not see her face which was smiling, 'the two ladies are gone. They're not coming back are they? We're all alone Charley. We've only you to look to, to know what's best.' He relaxed.

'And you'd rather have it that way, eh ducks?' he asked jovial. 'What can Mrs T. do for you?'

'She can ring up them green police can't she?' Edith said loud and sudden and pushed and shook his arms off while he stayed limp. One of his arms fell across her lap. He lifted it off at once. 'They'd never come for us, not them Irish,' she said.

'Come what for?' he asked confused.

'Why to protect us if the Germans took this place for their billets,' she said.

'You don't want to pay no attention,' he told her.

'Is that so? Then what do you need to go talkin' round it for?'

'It's you I'm concerned about,' he said.

Again she took a short look at him. This time it was as if he could not understand the flash of rage on her face. He put an arm through hers. As she turned her head away he said almost hoarse, 'Here, give us a kiss.'

'Lucky we left the door open wasn't it?' she said.

'Just a small one?' he asked.

She got up.

'Have you cleaned your teeth?' she enquired.

'Have I cleaned my what?'

'Oh nothing,' she said. She did not seem so pleasant.

'Why,' he remarked, 'I brush them every morning first thing.'

'Forget it,' she said and wandered over to that group photograph of Mr Jack which she peered into.

'I can't make you out at all,' he complained, getting up to follow her.

'You will,' she replied. 'You will when those Jerries come over and start murdering us or worse in our beds. When the police begin to fight one another like you said they would.'

He stood back making motions with his hands.

'But it's you I was concerned over love,' he said.

'Me?' she took him up. 'What have I got to lose by goin' home? I'll thank you to tell me that. While if I stay on here there's worse than death can come. It'll be too late then. I got my life still to live Mr Raunce. I'm not like many have had the best part of theirs.'

'Just lately I been wonderin' if my life weren't just starting.'

'Well even if you can't tell whether you're comin' or goin' I know the way I'm placed thank you.'

'Look dear I could fall for you in a big way,' he said and he saw her back stiffen as though she had begun to hear with intense attention. She said no word.

'I could,' he went on. 'For the matter of that I have.' At this moment she flung round on him and his hangdog face was dazzled by the excitement and scorn which seemed to blaze from her. But all she said was, 'You tell that to them all Charley.'

He appeared to rally a trifle and was about to answer when she exclaimed, 'Why Badger you dirty thing whatever have you got then?'

He turned to find the greyhound wagging its tail at him, muddy nosed, and carrying a plucked carcass that stank.

'Get off out from my premises,' he cried at once, galvanized. 'No wait,' he said. 'What've you got there mate?' The dog wagged its tail.

'Why d'you bother?' she asked impatient. 'It's only one of them peacocks.'

'One of the peacocks?' he almost shouted. 'But there'll be murder over this. No,' he added, 'you're having me on.' He made a step towards the dog which started to growl.

'That's right,' she said, 'Mrs Welch buried it away where none should see.'

'You're crazy,' he said.

I'll have you remember who you're speaking to Charley Raunce,' she broke out at him. 'Mrs Welch thinks nobody's learned but this bird aimed a peck at 'er Albert's little neck so the little chap upped and killed it. Then she buried it in such a way that no one shouldn't know. The children told me. But I wouldn't have that stinking thing lying around in my part no thank you. Badger,' she said, 'you be off you bad dog.'

On which the dog deposited this carcass at Raunce's feet.

'Holy Moses,' he said, 'the old cow.'

'Now then,' Edith interrupted. 'That's all right,' he went on, 'I'm thinkin' of you ducks. See?'

'No I don't.'

'Well she's got it in for you about that waterglass an' now we've something on her. Get me?'

A noise of high shrieks and the clapping of hands announced Miss Evelyn and Miss Moira, tearing along towards them down passages.

'For land's sake the children,' Edith exclaimed. 'Why I declare I forgot all about…'

Meantime Raunce had dashed out into the pantry snapping his fingers at the dog. It picked up the dead peacock and followed. Raunce shut that further door behind them both. For a moment Edith was alone as those children raced towards her the other way. Then they had arrived. She was holding her breasts.

'Mercy,' Miss Evelyn exclaimed with a trace of Cockney accent, 'why Edith you do look thrilled at something.'

Raunce's Albert came out of the door Mr Raunce had closed. He shut it again after him, on the butler and the dog and its find it carried.

'Hello Bert,' Miss Moira said.

'Hullo Miss Moira,' he replied. He just stood looking pale and miserable.

'You coining with us?' Edith asked. 'It's your afternoon off isn't it?'

'Oh yes,' he said, and a smile broke over his wan face.

'I got to get ready,' she announced. I'll race you two all the way up to my hide out. One three go,' she shouted and they were gone. The boy got out a handkerchief, blew his nose. His weak eyes shone.

As the three of them ran the front way through all the magnificence and the gilt of that Castle Miss Evelyn looked back. She cried, 'Why couldn't Bert race with us?'

'Because he's too old,' Edith called back panting, and steadied herself round a turn of the Grand Staircase by holding the black hand of a life-sized negro boy of cast iron in a great red turban and in gold-painted clothes.

Albert went behind the door to the cellar, unhooked his mackintosh and put on the rubber boots he kept there. It was not long before the others were back ready dressed to meet showers. Edith's head was in a silk scarf Mrs Jack had given her which was red and which had for decoration the words 'I love you I love you' written all over in black longhand with rounded letters.