Page:Delight - de la Roche - 1926.djvu/90



bedroom was in a state of disorder. The floor was strewn with hairpins, the chest of drawers vomited forth its contents, the basin was full to the brim of ice-cold soapy water. May's party clothes were thrown across a chair; her slippers, toeing in, lay in the middle of the floor, her pink cotton stockings, like fabulous pink snakes, beside them. Only the bed was decent, undisturbed. Delight longed to cast herself upon it, just as she was, half-undressed, and sleep, snatch a little rest, if only an hour, before the day's work began. But she must put on the neat black dress and white apron, and hurry down to the dining-room. Already she was late. She heard the factory whistle blowing for a quarter to seven. Annie would be waiting on the boarders, out of temper, too, and no wonder, having Delight's work put on to her.

She dipped a corner of the towel into the ewer and scrubbed her face and neck, and gave a hurried wipe with the other end.

"That's what Granny used to call a lick and a promise," she said, aloud, trying to be company for herself. She felt very lonely now it was morning, she hardly knew why, and she added—"Didn't you, Gran?" to bring her grandmother into the conversation.

She took out the earrings, very cautiously, for her ear lobes were inflamed and sore, and hid them as usual in