Page:Delight - de la Roche - 1926.djvu/122

 "Oh, for goodness sake, Bill. What if Mrs. Jessop came along? She's always snooping along this passage."

"Let her snoop. I'll soon show her who's boss here."

He pressed her to him roughly and kissed away the protest her lips were forming.

"Pearl in there?" he asked, glancing towards the bedroom door.

Annie nodded.

"Well, look here," he said, suddenly business-like, releasing her. "I've just been wondering now May's gone if we couldn't get along without hiring another girl."

Annie glared at him.

"My gosh, how hard do you think we can work? My soles are blistered now with being on my feet."

"I don't believe it."

Annie flushed. "Well, do the other thing, then. But they are."

"Show me, then."

"What do you take me for?"

"Oh, you girls! You make me tired. You don't know what real work is. I'm never off my feet."

"Well, you better get to bed, then, and rest."

"Now don't start getting at me, Annie. Listen. I'm wondering if you and Pearl could do May's work between you if I give you something extra. Suppose I gave her three dollars a month more, and you seven. She needn't know there's any difference in the amount."

The prospect of earning more money was alluring. Annie had a widowed mother and six young brothers and sisters. Still, she did not see how she could.

"It'd be awfully hard—"

"Now wait. Look here. Let that big lump Delight do more work. She doesn't do half what she should. Give her the travellers and town tables, and you can look