by Henry Green
'Steady on Edie where did you get that from? They don't act in such a fashion, not yet they don't.'
'Out of your very lips and not so long since either. You sat at dinner and frightened my Kate out of her mind almost, so she shouldn't go.'
'Why it was only a tale,' he pleaded.
'How d'you know? You said so Charley.'
'You've got no diplomacy love, that's what's the matter. I didn't want you left with all her work or some dirty Irish judy brought in to help who you'd have to go round after all the time. Sure I pitched 'er a tale. Mind you they'll be forced to it in the end before this war's over, when the casualties start an' they get real short of labour. You mark my words we'll all be in uniform then. But just at present there's nothing of the sort I tell you.'
'And you're certain this ain't just your idea to get rid of me?' she asked tearfully once more.
He put an arm round her shoulders.
'Ere,' he said, 'what's up all of a sudden? It's not like you to have nightmares or see shadows followin' you round.'
'I'm that bewildered,' she explained again, settling her cheek against his.
'Now don't you fret,' he comforted. 'You leave all the brain work to your old man. Lucky Charley they call him,' he said in a threadbare return to his usual manner. 'We want to get out of this country and when once we've made up our minds we want to get out fast.'
'Elope?' she cried delighted all of a sudden. 'Elope,' he agreed grave.
She gave him a big kiss. 'Why Charley,' she said, seemingly more and more delighted, 'that's romantic.'
'It's what we're going to do whatever the name you give it,' he replied.
'But don't you see that's a wonderful thing to do,' she went on. 'Maybe so,' he said soft into her ear, 'but it's what we're doing.'
'Oh I can love you for this,' she murmured. 'There I've said it now haven't I? You were always on at me to say. But go on.'
'That's all,' he announced. 'Only once I get hold of Michael we'd best get away out to-morrow.'
'Wait a minute,' she cried in a disappointed voice. 'And how about our month's notice?'
'We shan't hand it in mate that's all. We'll flit.'
'Oh but Charley that would be wrong,' she said in a low voice. 'Right or wrong it's what we'll do. We could get Kate to come along if you was to feel awkward.'
'Awkward?' she asked. 'How d'you mean?'
'Well,' he replied shyly. 'We can't get married before we've put the banns up a full three weeks on the other side. I was just askin' myself if you'd feel it was right our travelling without we were man and wife.'
She laughed. 'D'you reckon I can't protect myself from you after all this time?' she enquired gentle.
'I know you can right enough,' he replied, 'but I couldn't tell the way you'd see it.' She did not answer this. She said, 'Kate would never come with us, not now.'
'How's that Edie?'
'On account of her Paddy.'
'Go on with that for a tale.'
'I thought you knew dear,' she said.
'Well I did in a manner of speaking but not to place any reliance on it.'
'It's true right enough. She says he needs 'er.'
'Then all I can say is that's disgusting, downright disgusting.'
'Dithtrething and dithtathteful?' she asked.
'No mate it's no joking matter. Why a big, grown girl like her an' that ape out of a Zoo.'
'There's the way things are Charley.'
'But how did this come about?'
'She was lonely,' Edith explained, 'an' she watched us.'
'Ere,' he said, 'don't go layin' Paddy at my door. Why it's unnatural.'
'Well she's made her bed an' she needs must lie on it.'
'All the more reason then for us to get quick out of here,' was his comment.
'And not say goodbye to a soul?' she now asked in an excited voice.
'Not to anyone,' he replied narrowly watching her.
'Oh I couldn't,' she cried as though all at once she had despaired. 'I must tell Miss Evelyn and Miss Moira.'
'That's been the cause of half the trouble in this place. Once they get hold of something it's taken right out of control.'
'But it wouldn't be right. Why they're innocent.'
'Ow d'you mean innocent?' he enquired. There's a lot we could lay to their door.'
'They're not grown up,' she explained. They've got their lives to live yet. They mightn't understand if I was to go off without a word.'
'They'll forget soon enough dearest,' he said.
'No Charley,' she insisted and appeared distressed, 'you don't know. It would be wicked that's all. D'you mean to say we've not got to say one word?'
'That's right mate.'
'But what about Miss Burch? How will she take it? Can you tell me? Or Miss Swift who's trusted me with the young ladies?'
He put his arms about her. He held her close.
'Look my own love,' he said, 'it's like this. Once we let it get about that we're goin' then they'll all of them begin to talk. Mrs Tennant will pay a call on Mrs Welch who will send for old Agatha out of her bed. Miss Swift'11 'ave 'ysterics an' the Captain will receive a phone call from Mrs Jack to stop you an' me on the boat. Michael will be threatened with the sack. They'll even tell the garage in Kinalty they mustn't hire to us.' He could feel her trembling.
'But Charley dear,' she protested, 'this is a free country surely to goodness?'
'It's priest-ridden love,' he replied.
'But Mrs Tennant's got no right to stop someones, not if we give her a month's wages.'
'A month's wages my eye. That's a fine way to start bein' married, to throw good money down the drain.'
'All right then Charley. You know best I expect.'
'No,' he went on, 'it's on account of that ring. She's got her suspicions you see love. She let Albert find his way but with us she'd raise holy Cain, making out I was carryin' you off.'
'But that's what you are doin' surely dear,' Edith announced. She settled deeper in his arms.
'It's you cartin' me off body and soul more likely,' he answered. He fastened on to her mouth. His face was very white and green and grey.
When he lifted his lips from hers he asked, 'Then you will to-morrow, without a word said to anyone?'
'I expect so,' she replied.
'You don't sound very certain,' he remarked.
'Oh I will, I will,' she cried very loud and wildly kissed him.
'You could tell Kate if you wished,' he said when he had a chance.
'I'll not say a word to a soul,' she promised.
At this he began to flush. The colour spread until his face had become an alarming ugly purple.
'Why I do declare you're blushin',' she cried delightedly. 'You who never have.' Then as he leant himself back, obviously stretched and tested by what he experienced, she said nervous again.
'What's up with you? You're not goin' sick on me are you?'
'I'll be O. K.,' he said faint.
'Not just when we've got this great journey?' she added.
'It was only that I feared you'd never consent,' he explained in a weak voice, with closed eyes. 'If I know anything it's that they'll keep us here one way or the other if we let a word out. Oh sweet'eart darlin' I'd hardly liked to think you'd see it my way.' He closed his eyes. An arm was limp over her shoulders. 'We'll go straight to Peterboro' where my mum'll have a bed for you. Arthur Sanders the sergeant of police I was at school with will put me up at his place till we can have the ceremony. And we must find us a room for a start.'
'Yes,' she said. She kissed the inside of his hand.
'Why look who's here,' she exclaimed. He opened his eyes and found Badger wagging his tail so hard that he was screwed right round into a crescent. The dog seemed deeply ashamed of something.
'You go on out of it,' Raunce ordered. This no place for you when you're only after one of those pigeon to knock off.' The hound left, looking back twice as he went. And once he turned to stand with pricked ea
rs, with a wild yearning look of grief.
'That dog's more trouble than he's worth,' Raunce muttered. He let his eyelids shut down over his eyes. 'He'd never catch a mouse! that had lost all its legs not now he wouldn't,' he added in a voice of I deep content.
'Well this is a fine elopement,' she remarked amused. 'I didn't j gamble on you going to sleep on me I must say.'
'It's me dyspepsia,' he excused himself from behind shut eyes. That's a condition don't let up on you however you're placed.'
'You rest yourself dearest,' she answered then murmured happily to herself that in another minute she would have forgotten what they had come out for.
Accordingly she picked up the bag of scraps. She began to feed the peacocks. They came forward until they had her surrounded. Then a company of doves flew down on the seat to be fed. They settled all over her. And their fluttering disturbed Raunce who reopened his eyes. What he saw then he watched so that it could be: guessed that he was in pain with his great delight. For what with the peacocks bowing at her purple skirts, the white doves nodding on her shoulders round her brilliant cheeks and her great eyes that blinked tears of happiness, it made a picture.
'Edie,' he appealed soft, probably not daring to move or speak too sharp for fear he might disturb it all. Yet he used exactly that tone Mr Eldon had employed at the last when calling his Ellen. 'Edie,' he moaned.
The next day Raunce and Edith left without a word of warning. Over in England they were married and lived happily ever after.
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