Coquette

valued him more; but she knew all that he couldteach her of love, and already her strong eagerness for him was becomingold and accustomed. The one restraint she had was fear of what he mightdo; and that fear was beginning to decline in face of stronger impulsestowards the opportunity which marriage with Gaga would produce. And justin this crucial stage of her reflections came a most striking freshinfluence. It was brought by Miss Summers, who returned from thetelephone with a solemn expression upon her face.

  "Sally," she said. "Come here." When Sally approached her, Miss Summerspretended to give some instructions; but in reality, under her breath,she murmured: "Sally, don't tell the other girls; but Madam's worse thismorning. Her temperature's 103." Her warning frown emphasised themeaning of the words. It made Sally's heart begin to beat fast. Madam... Madam....

  With her head low, Sally bent over her work. But that frown had broughtdecision to her mind. She would marry Gaga. It was so important that sheshould not miss this chance that she would marry him at once. She _must_do so. It was essential. What if he had grown frightened?

  That was her new spur of fear. Toby was forgotten. She was on fire forthe marriage. It had now become the only conclusion to her doubts. Shemust take the earliest opportunity of seeing Gaga, of conveying heracceptance, of making sure of him. Her fingers trembled, so importantdid time now seem to Sally. Her one anxiety was lest she should have tokindle his eagerness anew. Troubled but resolute, she tried in vain towork. Every sound made her start. All her attention was distracted fromthe sewing and concentrated upon the possibility of an interview withGaga. Yet a shyness made her afraid to leave her place and go intoMadam's room. The other girls would notice. What if they did? They wouldsoon know that they could not treat her with anything but humility. Shewould have untold power over them. Sally almost recoiled from theknowledge of what power she would wield in the business once she wasGaga's wife. It seemed to her incredible. Her mind strayed to MissSummers, Miss Rapson, the jealous Rose.... How would they like it? Whatwould they do? Sally imagined the news reaching them, imagined theirfear of her, their jealousy, their cutting remarks about herself. Andshe laughed, knowing that she would be out of reach of any of the harmthat they might wish her.

  While she was thus contemplating a development, the door of Gaga's roomopened, and he came quickly into the workroom. Sally's heart seemed tostop beating. She felt sick with dread. He wore a flower in hisbuttonhole. His first glance was for Sally, as her own lightningscrutiny showed. He was white, but he smiled. His eagerness of inquirywas manifest. Sally could not help smiling in return, although she wastrembling, and knew that he too must be trembling. She gave the faintestpossible nod, and saw the colour start to his cheek. Gaga was checkedfor an instant in his progress. His smile broadened, his head was thrownback. At that moment he looked almost like a determined man, so vividlydid Sally's nod cause a new ichor of confidence to run in his veins.

  xx

  On a bright morning about ten days later, Sally lay in bed watching hermother prepare the breakfast upon their oil stove. Although the year wasin its last months it was still warm and sunny, and Mrs. Minto clamberedabout the room half-dressed, with her grey hair hanging behind in raggedtails. With her bodice off she looked more than ever meagre, her thinface sharper and greyer than of old, and her movements more uncertain.As Sally watched her mother she realised that the unsightly walls andbattered furniture were just of a piece with the creeping figure. Whatshe did not understand was that Mrs. Minto was so used to the furniture,which she had known during the whole of her married life, that she didnot recognise its dilapidation. But Sally had no time for thought of hermother. She was excited. Her tongue came out between her teeth, and shelooked at the ceiling. At last, in a laconic voice, she said:

  "Ma!" Mrs. Minto glanced wearily at her. Sally considered her speechwith a further smile, so that Mrs. Minto became irritated, and went onwith her preparations in a rather indignant way. "Ma," resumed Sally,relishingly, "I shan't be home to-night."

  Mrs. Minto started. She became instantly alert.

  "Oh yes you will, my girl," she cried sternly. "None o' that!"

  "Yes, I shan't be home to-night," repeated Sally. "Nor to-morrow night,either."

  Mrs. Minto left her work and came to the bedside. She was like asnarling bitch, savage over her threatened young.

  "Sally!" she exclaimed, in a rough voice. "What you doing! What d'youmean? Of course you'll be home. You're not going to play any tricks withme, my gel."

  "I shan't be coming home," continued Sally. "Not ever. I'm gettingmarried to-day."

  Mrs. Minto sat down upon the bed.

  "Married!" she screamed. "Married! Why, who you going to marry! Whatd'you mean? Silly girl, trying to frighten me!"

  "Don't get excited, ma. I'm going to look after you. The fact is, I'm... well, _you'll_ be all right. Nothing to worry about."

  "Who _is_ he?" demanded Mrs. Minto. "Who _is_ he?" She was desperatelyagitated. "Sally, I'm your mother.... Oh, you bad girl! You beenhiding.... I knew you was hiding something. I knew where them fastfrocks was leading you!"

  Sally was enjoying the scene. But she suddenly checked herself.

  "Ma, I'm marrying a rich man. I'm marrying Madam's son."

  "Madam's _son_!"

  "Yes." She was complacent. "Those fast frocks lead to the registryoffice."

  "Reg.... Not in church? It's.... Sally!"

  "What I say," cried Sally.

  "A rich man!"

  "Mr. Bertram. And what's more he loves me. And you won't have to do anymore charing. Only sit here and gorge yourself on the police news, likea lady, and...."

  "Married!" gasped Mrs. Minto. She gave a foolish giggling laugh, and thetears ran down her cheeks. "Is it _true_, Sally?"

  Sally held up her left hand, brought it blazing from under thebedclothes. Mrs. Minto seized the hand, squeezed it hard, and pored overthe brilliants.

  "Well!" she exclaimed. Then she shook her head, and wiped the tears fromher cheeks. A great sobriety appeared in her expression. Anxiety was herdominating concern. "D'you love him, Sally? You ought to have told me. Iought to have seen him. He hasn't asked for you. He ought to have comeand asked your mother."

  "Madam's ill. I told him I'd tell you. You got to give your consent,'cause I'm so young. He's got no time to get away. I'm very fond of him,and he thinks I'm...." Sally hoisted her shoulders. She had spoken verydeliberately.

  "You said he was soppy."

  Sally turned a cold eye upon her mother.

  "You got too good a memory," she remarked. "What I've said to you....Well, I knew you'd worry about him, and think I was going to get intotrouble, and.... Anyway, we're getting married this morning, and goingfor our honeymoon this afternoon."

  "Where you going?"

  "In the country. Penterby. It's on the river, near the sea. You get tothe sea in no time. Ga-- Bertram-- Bert says it's lovely. Quiet, and ...you know, you can get about."

  "Married! I can't believe it!"

  "I'll show you my certificate, when I get it. Don't you believe me?"

  Mrs. Minto sat quite still upon the bed for a minute, her face intenselypale. She seemed unable to say anything more. Then, very slowly indeed,she recovered the power of motion, and rose wearily to her feet. She didnot look at Sally, but kept her eyes away. She stood upright, and tooktwo or three steps. But as she paused again her emotion becameoverwhelming, and she clutched feebly at the bedrail. With her headresting upon both thin arms she began to cry aloud--great turbulent sobswhich shook her whole body.

  "My baby! My baby!" she wailed noisily. "Oh, what shall I do! My baby!"

  Sally's lips quivered. She tried to smile. Slowly she crept out of bed,and put her arms round her mother.

  "Sh! Sh!" she whispered. "Ma! Ma! You're making me blubber, too. You oldfool! It's not a funeral!"

  Strange emotion shook Sally as well as her mother. But they weredifferent. A thoughtful pucker came between her brows, and she had asmile that was almost contemptuous.

&nb
sp; "Ma!" she repeated, as the sobs remained vehement. "Shut up, ma! Oh,what an old image! Talk about a noise! Anybody'd think it was _you_ whowas getting married!"

  She had recovered her own nerve. She could not see the future; but herhead was cool, and she stared over her mother's shoulder at the sunlightbleaching the outer grime of the neighbouring roofs. In her thinnightgown she looked like a child, and her face was so impish that sheseemed to regard her marriage as one more in a long series of goodjokes. Her