Coquette

like that of birds fora coming storm.

  v

  It was some weeks before Sally again saw Gaga, and this time he cameinto the premises of Madame Gala one Saturday morning. Sally had takensomething in to Madam, and was waiting her judgment, when one dooropened and Gaga came in. He was dressed, as usual, in a morning coat andtop hat, and his trousers were creased to an inconceivable point ofaccuracy. Besides which, his tailors had been able to do what mosttailors cannot achieve; the creases arrived at the precise centre ofGaga's fawn spats. Sally was not such an expert in male clothing torecognise from this that Gaga's tailors were supermen; but she couldtell that he looked like a gentleman of leisure. She was the moreastonished, therefore, to see him carrying a parcel of some size underhis arm. His mother was evidently quite as astonished.

  "What on earth's that, Bertie?" she demanded. Gaga looked at her in atimid way.

  "Oh--er--it's ... it's a new fertiliser," he said. "I.... I'm going totake it on to the office after lunch. Goodmayes is coming back then.Perrip says it's wonderful stuff, and I want Goodmayes to go into it.We're going into all that matter--good morning, Miss Minto--thisafternoon. I.... I think we may be able to get through quite a lot. Yousee, as it's Saturday, we shan't be interrupted...."

  "That will do, Sally," said Madam, gravely and slowly nodding her headin dismissal.

  Sally went with regret. She had been interested in the conversation. Shehad taken it for granted that Gaga did nothing for a living. Now hetalked of going to an office, and of two men whose opinions he evidentlyvalued, and of fertiliser; and although his words and his manner werestill those of a hesitating man he did not speak as an absolute fool.Sally felt a stir of curiosity. What sort of business was it that he wasin? Fertiliser ... wonderful stuff ... something to do with gardening,would it be? As she was closing the door, Sally looked back and sawmother and son standing together. The likeness was remarkable. Both weretall, grey-faced, and slightly stooping. Gaga was weak-looking for aman, and Madam had more severity; but there were such lines upon herface that she looked like an old woman. A sudden realisation shookSally. As she went back to Miss Summers with an explanation of Madam'sdeferred judgment she had this sharp new knowledge about Madame Gala.

  "Well _she_ won't live for ever," thought Sally, definitely.

  And then she had recourse to her usual informant, Muriel, and asked herGaga's business. Muriel did not know. Sally was therefore left toconjecture. She forgot all about Madam and Gaga, for Toby was going tomeet her after business on his first leave from the "Florence Drake."She was dressed in her most destructive raiment, had searched the skiesfor rain, and was watching the clock. So fertilisers went the way of allsecondary things, and Toby became her dominating thought. He had becomethe more splendid by his absence. She imagined him standing in thestreet below, dressed equally in his best clothes, and looking thefinest boy on earth. They were going into Hyde Park and KensingtonGardens, and he had promised to take her in a boat on the Serpentine, ifone could be hired, and somewhere to tea, and at night to theMarlborough Theatre in Holloway Road. It was worth while to lose him fora time in order to recover a Toby more dear, and so much moreextravagant on her behalf. He explained his generosity by the fact thathe would be drawing his wages that day. Good to be a sailor, and haveyour money in a lump like that! Sally thought she would not altogethermind if he remained at sea for a time. He could save, and she could geton; and then they would both be happy, with a house somewhere, and amaid, and everything spick and span. No babies. Sally had taken that toheart, and she appreciated the value of old Perce's advice. A girl whowanted to get on did not need babies to drag her down. She wantedfreedom.

  As the clock slowly crawled to the hour of liberation all the girlsbegan to put away their things, so that a real busyness was observablein the room. Sally was apparently no more eager than the others, and yetshe could hardly keep herself from running to the window to see if Tobywas in the street below. Sedately she prepared to leave, walking downthe stairs slowly instead of rushing at them as she wished to do. Shebuttoned her little gloves, and set her hat straight, and made herselfappear nonchalant. And that was how it happened that Gaga overtook herat the front door, and stood with her for a moment upon the doorstep.

  "Lovely day it is," Gaga said, agreeably. "You going to get away?"

  "Away? Oh, no, I'm going home," Sally said brightly. Then, looking athim, she saw that there was nothing to disturb the impression that hewas a gentleman of leisure. "Oh Mr. Ga-- Mr. Bertram ... you haven't gotyour parcel!" she cried.

  He slapped one hand upon the other, with a most dramatic gesture.

  "Idiot!" he exclaimed. "Thank you _so_ much, Miss Minto. You've saved myafternoon." And with that, raising his top hat, he went back up thestairs, leaving Sally to congratulate herself upon her memory and herpresence of mind. For she knew the rooms would all be locked by MissSummers before she left.

  She looked round for Toby, and saw him, as fine as a bird, upon theopposite path. Crossing over, she took his arm with such pride anddelight that Toby, who had been frowning as he greeted her, was almostappeased. She looked so charming in her very pale green dress with theartfully-brimmed hat that he also had looked proud and happy at herfirst appearance. But Toby had received a shock. Standing there in hisdark tweed suit, with a rakish Trilby hat and a fascinating cane, he hadfelt a fit companion for any girl, and as he was shaven, and his squareface was browned with the sun and the sea wind, he had been content. Andthen Sally, looking like a princess....

  "Who the devil's that silly fop?" he demanded, jerking his head.

  Sally gave a jump, and a mischievous peep up into Toby's brown face.

  "Jealous?" she asked. "That's right: be a man. They're never happyunless they're jealous. That's Gaga. And if you want to know who Gagais, he's Madam's son. See?"

  "Well, he'd better not come fooling around you," growled Toby. "Or he'llget a thick ear. With his top hat and his kid gloves and all."

  "Hark at it!" jeered Sally. "Quite the little man! Don't you think he'sawfully good-looking, Toby? We're all mad about him. All us girls."

  "No, I don't," said Toby, deliberately. "But I expect he's the sort thegirls like. Well, he's got a harem there, and no mistake, all fussinground him. Is he there all the time?"

  "No. Toby, what's fertilisers?" Sally's curiosity had been revived."Don't you know? Oh, shut up about Gaga. Anybody'd think he was a devil.He isn't. He's soppy. He wouldn't dare to make love to any of us girls.If I was to look at him he'd run away."

  "Yes," said Toby, grimly. "I see he didn't like you looking at him."

  "Well, I'll tell you something else, Toby," added Sally, with apersuasively dry candour. "If Madam was to see me looking at him Ishould get the sack--spiff! See?"

  Toby was impressed. More, he was silenced. They spent a happy afternoonand evening, with no further reference to Gaga. Nor did Sally think ofGaga during the whole of the weekend. He might have been mixed andpounded with his own fertiliser for all she cared. For Sally had Toby.

  vi

  One night Miss Summers and Sally were working late upon a "rush job,"and Madam was also in her room. The girls had all gone; but Sally hadbeen chosen by Miss Summers to help her, and Sally was always ready todo this because it meant a small addition to her weekly money. Madam wasdoing her books, and Gaga was helping her. Sally was sewingbusily--beautiful fine work that caused Miss Summers to purr and lickher lips with relish;--and as they worked they exchanged remarks whichwould have been impossible if they had not been alone. Miss Summersalways spoke of the business, which absorbed her, and Sally gleanedinnumerable details in this way, without seeming to be doing such athing. She, on her side, gave Miss Summers a low-toned picture of herown life, concentrating upon domestic circumstances and enhancing MissSummers' respect for her bravery and her willingness. When they had beensilent once for a little while, and Sally had finished the first of herdifficult and gratifying tasks, Sally fell into thought, and at lastsaid to Miss Summers:

  "Wish I kne
w about accounts. I don't know anything. Is it hard tolearn?"

  Miss Summers shook her plump face, and rubbed the tip of her nose withthe back of her hand.

  "No," she reassuringly said. "It's easy. You know what twice one are?Well, that's all it is. You put down on one side how much you charged,and when you get the money you put it down on the other side, and draw aline to show they balance. And every month or every quarter you gothrough your books, and see who hasn't paid; and if it isn't anybodyspecial you send them a fresh account. And if it's a real lady you don'tworry