Page:Undset - Jenny (1921).djvu/204

 hope that some day youth would touch me, if only for once, with his wand. But my hair has turned white meanwhile."

Jenny raised her head and laid her hand caressingly on his head.

"Are you tired, little one? Shall I take off your shoes? Will you not lie down and rest?"

"No, let me stay as I am; it is nicer so."

She drew her feet up under her and nestled closer in his lap. He laid one arm about her, and with the other hand he poured out some wine, holding the glass to her lips. She drank readily. He dropped cherries into her mouth and took the stones from her lips, putting them on the plate.

"More wine?"

"Thanks. I think I will stay with you. I can send a message home to say I have met Heggen—I believe he is in town—but I must go home before the trams stop."

"I'll go and see about it now." He let her down gently on the sofa. "Lie still there and rest, little one."

When he was gone she took off her shoes, drank some more wine, and lay down on the sofa with her head deep in the cushions, pulling a rug over herself.

After all, she loved him, and was glad to be with him. Sitting as she had been a moment ago, resting in his arms, she was happy. He was the only one in the world who had taken her on his knee, warming her and hiding her and calling her his little girl. He was the only being who had stood by her really—so why should she not be close to him?

When he held her close to him and hid her so that she saw nothing, but only felt that he had his arms round her and warmed her, she was contented. She could not do without him, so why not give him the little she had to give, when he gave her what she needed most of all?

He could kiss her, do with her what he liked, provided he