Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/95

 exertion of muscle, admirable in its way, whirled Bob round and dragged him to the head of the kitchen flight. The young fellow took it in good part, and went down with her.

"You go up into the passage," said Clem to her servant, and was immediately obeyed.

"Now," resumed Miss Peckover, when she had closed the door, "who have you been goin' about with to-night?"

"What are you talking about?" returned Bob, who had seated himself on the table, and was regarding Clem jocosely. "I've been with some pals, that's all."

"Pals! what sort o' pals? Do you call Pennyloaf Candy one o' your pals?"

She stood before him in a superb attitude, her head poised fiercely, her arms quivering at her sides, all the stature and vigour of her young body emphasised by muscular strain.

"Pennyloaf Candy!" Bob repeated, as if in scorn of the person so named. "Get on with you! I'm sick of hearing you talk about her. Why, I haven't seen her not these three weeks."