Page:Delight - de la Roche - 1926.djvu/154



What a comical way she talked, poor young Queenie!

Mrs. Jessop went to the back door and called, but in a low voice:

"Henry!"

A half-grown boy who worked about the stables at odd times entered now and threw a look of dull surprise at Delight. He had never seen anyone who looked at all like her, and he did not like the look of her in the least.

"This is the trunk," said Mrs. Jessop. "Got your wheelbarrow outside?"

"M-m," grunted Henry, heaving up the trunk. "Can I go on ahead? She can foller all right."

Delight answered:

"Well, don't go too fast. I'd like to keep near you." She thought of the dim, lonely streets. She would like some company, however stupid, on that last walk through Brancepeth.

Henry grunted again and staggered out with the trunk.

"You said last night that Davy would take my trunk," said Delight. "I'd like to ha' seen one of them again."

"I changed my mind."

"Well, good-bye." Delight swallowed the last of her tea and set down the cup.

With a fierce gesture, Mrs. Jessop snatched it up, and, with rigid arm, held it before the eyes of the girl.

"You see that cup?"

"Yes."

Mrs. Jessop hurled it to the floor, smashing it to fragments. A ferocious smile lighted her face.