Page:Delight - de la Roche - 1926.djvu/34

 choice there was for them by the waitress. It was this table that Delight was to serve.

She and May were in the pantry between the dining-room and kitchen. She was all a-tremble with excitement.

"Do I look tidy, May?" she whispered, glancing over her neat black dress with its sleeves to the wrists and modestly rounded neck, for it was a time when clothes were still made to conceal, and one might even cross the street to see a motor car in Brancepeth.

"Your apron's a bit at one side," answered May, straightening it, "but you look as fresh as a daisy. Oh, Delight, do be on the watch for 'im. You'll know 'im the minute you set eyes on 'im. A kind of bullet 'ead, and those blue eyes like a biby, and 'is teeth just a space apart."

"Lord, d'you expect me to turn his face up and look into his mouth?"

"Don't be 'ateful," replied May, her eyes filling with tears. "If you only knew the ache in me 'ere," she pressed her hand to her heart.

"Now, don't you worry, May! I'm just skittish 'cause I'm nervy. Tell me again what I'm to say to him."

"Lean over 'im and whisper—'Remember your May. Be on the watch tonight.' That'll fetch 'im."

Annie threw open the swing door from the kitchen and fastened it. "Mrs. Jessop's looking for you," she said to May. "She wants you to get busy on the bedrooms. Come on, Delight."

Annie led the way to the dining-room with an air of deserved superiority. She met an early traveller at the door, led him to the commercial table, seated him, and handed him the bill-of-fare. He took out a pair of eye-glasses, adjusted them to his nose, and was about to read when his eyes fell on Delight. For a moment he stared