Page:Delight - de la Roche - 1926.djvu/95

 break the dishes if you go on. I feel as weak as a kitten."

He put his arm about her and laid his cheek against her hair. "So do I," he sighed. "Weak as kittens, both of us." Taking her wrist in his sallow fingers, he lifted her hand from the dishpan and held it tenderly aloft, while greasy drops hung from every finger tip.

"Pearl, Pearl," he repeated. "What a beautiful name. Delight. Lovely name. Lovely names. Lovely girls."

"I think I'll go," said Delight. They made no reply.

She passed into the scullery where Mrs. Bye was blacking Queenie's boots, grasping her frock between the shoulders with one hand to prevent her being overthrown by the onslaught of the brush wielded by the other.

"I had to come away," exclaimed Delight. "That Silk's too comical for me. He's making love to Pearl over the dish-water just like an orator or something. They were getting so mooney I couldn't put up with it."

Cook sucked in the air under her projecting tooth. "I'd never trust that man. I wish Pearlie'd keep clear of him. Is Annie needing me?"

"No. The top-floor boarders are gone. I think there's just the Hair professor in there now. Annie took up the bacon for him herself. She never seemed to notice them."

"If Mrs. Jessop should notice them, I pity them. She never did like Mr. Silk, and she won't have spooning in the kitchen."

Delight snatched up Queenie and kissed her. Her heart was filled with tenderness this morning. "If any boys pull your hair just tell me and I'll attend to them," she enjoined.

"I luh oo," cried Queenie, hugging her. "I onh wan a go a poo. Poy puh my 'air."