尤利西斯-第86章

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with　an　exquisite　nose　and　he　was　what　he　looked；　every　inch　a　gentleman；　the　shape　of　his　head　too　at　the　back　without　his　cap　on　that　she　would　know　anywhere　something　off　the　mon　and　the　way　he　turned　the　bicycle　at　the　lamp　with　his　hands　off　the　bars　and　also　the　nice　perfume　of　those　good　cigarettes　and　besides　they　were　both　of　a　size　and　that　was　why　Edy　Boardman　thought　she　was　so　frightfully　clever　because　he　didn't　go　and　ride　up　and　down　in　front　of　her　bit　of　a　garden。　
Gerty　was　dressed　simply　but　with　the　instinctive　taste　of　a　votary　of　Dame　Fashion　for　she　felt　that　there　was　just　a　might　that　he　might　be　out。　A　neat　blouse　of　electric　blue；　selftinted　by　dolly　dyes　（because　it　was　expected　in　the　Lady's　Pictorial　that　electric　blue　would　be　worn）；　with　a　smart　vee　opening　down　to　the　division　and　kerchief　pocket　（in　which　she　always　kept　a　piece　of　cottonwool　scented　with　her　favourite　perfume　because　the　handkerchief　spoiled　the　sit）　and　a　navy　threequarter　skirt　cut　to　the　stride　showed　off　her　slim　graceful　figure　to　perfection。　She　wore　a　coquettish　little　love　of　a　hat　of　wideleaved　nigger　straw　contrast　trimmed　with　an　underbrim　of　eggblue　chenille　and　at　the　side　a　butterfly　bow　to　tone。　All　Tuesday　week　afternoon　she　was　hunting　to　match　that　chenille　but　at　last　she　found　what　she　wanted　at　Clery's　summer　sales；　the　very　it；　slightly　shopsoiled　but　you　would　never　notice；　seven　fingers　two　and　a　penny。　She　did　it　up　all　by　herself　and　what　joy　was　hers　when　she　tried　it　on　then；　smiling　at　the　lovely　reflection　which　the　mirror　gave　back　to　her！　And　when　she　put　it　on　the　waterjug　to　keep　the　shape　she　knew　that　that　would　take　the　shine　out　of　some　people　she　knew。　Her　shoes　were　the　newest　thing　in　footwear　（Edy　Boardman　prided　herself　that　she　was　very　petite　but　she　never　had　a　foot　like　Gerty　MacDowell；　a　five；　and　never　would　ash；　oak　or　elm）　with　patent　toecaps　and　just　one　smart　buckle　at　her　higharched　instep。　Her　wellturned　ankle　displayed　its　perfect　proportions　beneath　her　skirt　and　just　the　proper　amount　and　no　more　of　her　shapely　limbs　encased　in　finespun　hose　with　high　spliced　heels　and　wide　garter　tops。　As　for　undies　they　were　Gerty's　chief　care　and　who　that　knows　the　fluttering　hopes　and　fears　of　sweet　seventeen　（though　Gerty　would　never　see　seventeen　again）　can　find　it　in　his　heart　to　blame　her？　She　had　four　dinky　sets；　with　awfully　pretty　stitchery；　three　garments　and　nighties　extra；　and　each　set　slotted　with　different　coloured　ribbons；　rosepink；　pale　blue；　mauve　and　peagreen　and　she　aired　them　herself　and　blued　them　when　they　came　home　from　the　wash　and　ironed　them　and　she　had　a　brickbat　to　keep　the　iron　on　because　she　wouldn't　trust　those　washerwomen　as　far　as　she'd　see　them　scorching　the　things。　She　was　wearing　the　blue　for　luck；　hoping　against　hope；　her　own　colour　and　the　lucky　colour　too　for　a　bride　to　have　a　bit　of　blue　somewhere　on　her　because　the　green　she　wore　that　day　week　brought　grief　because　his　father　brought　him　in　to　study　for　the　intermediate　exhibition　and　because　she　thought　perhaps　he　might　be　out　because　when　she　was　dressing　that　morning　she　nearly　slipped　up　the　old　pair　on　her　inside　out　and　that　was　for　luck　and　lovers'　meetings　if　you　put　those　things　on　inside　out　so　long　as　it　wasn't　of　a　Friday。　
And　yet　and　yet！　That　strained　look　on　her　face！　A　gnawing　sorrow　is　there　all　the　time。　Her　very　soul　is　in　her　eyes　and　she　would　give　worlds　to　be　in　the　privacy　of　her　own　familiar　chamber　where；　giving　way　to　tears；　she　could　have　a　good　cry　and　relieve　her　pentup　feelings。　Though　not　too　much　because　she　knew　how　to　cry　nicely　before　the　mirror。　You　are　lovely；　Gerty；　it　said。　The　paly　light　of　evening　falls　upon　a　face　infinitely　sad　and　wistful。　Gerty　MacDowell　yearns　in　vain。　Yes；　she　had　known　from　the　first　that　her　daydream　of　a　marriage　has　been　arranged　and　the　weddingbells　ringing　for　Mrs　Reggy　Wylie　T。　C。　D。　（because　the　one　who　married　the　elder　brother　would　be　Mrs　Wylie）　and　in　the　fashionable　intelligence　Mrs　Gertrude　Wylie　was　wearing　a　sumptuous　confection　of　grey　trimmed　with　expensive　blue　fox　was　not　to　be。　He　was　too　young　to　understand。　He　would　not　believe　in　love；　a　woman's　birthright。　The　night　of　the　party　long　ago　in　Stoers'　（he　was　still　in　short　trousers）　when　they　were　alone　and　he　stole　an　arm　round　her　waist　she　went　white　to　the　very　lips。　He　called　her　little　one　in　a　strangely　husky　voice　and　snatched　a　half　kiss　（the　first！）　but　it　was　only　the　end　of　her　nose　and　then　he　hastened　from　the　room　with　a　remark　about　refreshments。　Impetuous　fellow！　Strength　of　character　had　never　been　Reggy　Wylie's　strong　point　and　he　who　would　woo　and　win　Gerty　MacDowell　must　be　a　man　among　men。　But　waiting；　always　waiting　to　be　asked　and　it　was　leap　year　too　and　would　soon　be　over。　No　prince　charming　is　her　beau　ideal　to　lay　a　rare　and　wondrous　love　at　her　feet　but　rather　a　manly　man　with　a　strong　quiet　face　who　had　not　found　his　ideal；　perhaps　his　hair　slightly　flecked　with　grey；　and　who　would　understand；　take　her　in　his　sheltering　arms；　strain　her　to　him　in　all　the　strength　of　his　deep　passionate　nature　and　fort　her　with　a　long　long　kiss。　It　would　be　like　heaven。　For　such　a　one　she　yearns　this　balmy　summer　eve。　With　all　the　heart　of　her　she　longs　to　be　his　only；　his　affianced　bride　for　riches　for　poor；　in　sickness　in　health；　till　death　us　two　part；　from　this　to　this　day　forward。　
And　while　Edy　Boardman　was　with　little　Tommy　behind　the　pushcar　she　was　just　thinking　would　the　day　ever　e　when　she　could　call　herself　his　little　wife　to　be。　Then　they　could　talk　about　her　till　they　went　blue　in　the　face；　Bertha　Supple　too；　and　Edy；　the　spitfire；　because　she　would　be　twenty…two　in　November。　She　would　care　for　him　with　creature　forts　too　for　Gerty　was　womanly　wise　and　knew　that　a　mere　man　liked　that　feeling　of　hominess。　Her　griddlecakes　done　to　a　golden…brown　hue　and　queen　Ann's　pudding　of　delightful　creaminess　had　won　golden　opinions　from　all　because　she　had　a　lucky　hand　also　for　lighting　a　fire；　dredge　in　the　fine　selfraising　flour　and　always　stir　in　the　same　direction　then　cream　the　milk　and　sugar　and　whisk　well　the　white　of　eggs　though　she　didn't　like　the　eating　part　when　there　were　any　people　that　made　her　shy　and　often　she　wondered　why　you　couldn't　eat　something　poetical　like　violets　or　roses　and　they　would　have　a　beautifully　appointed　drawingroom　with　pictures　and　engravings　and　the　photograph　of　grandpapa　Giltrap's　lovely　dog　Garryowen　that　almost　talked；　it　was　so　human；　and　chintz　covers　for　the　chairs　and　that　silver　toastrack　in　Clery's　summer　jumble　sales　like　they　have　in　rich　houses。　He　would　be　tall　with　broad　shoulders　（she　had　always　admired　tall　men　for　a　husband）　with　glistening　white　teeth　under　his　carefully　trimmed　sweeping　moustache　and　they　would　go　on　the　continent　for　their　honeymoon　（three　wonderful　weeks！）　and　then；　when　they　settled　down　in　a　nice　snug　and　cosy　little　homely　house；　every　morning　they　would　both　have　brekky；　simple　but　perfectly　served；　for　their　own　two　selves　and　before　he　went　out　to　business　he　would　give　his　dear　little　wifey　a　good　hearty　hug　and　gaze　for　a　moment　deep　down　into　her　eyes。　
Edy　Boardman　asked　Tommy　Caffrey　was　he　done　and　he　said　yes；　so　then　she　buttoned　up　his　little　knickerbockers　for　him　and　told　him　to　run　off　and　play　with　Jacky　and　to　be　good　now　and　not　to　fight。　But　Tommy　said　he　wanted　the　ball　and　Edy　told　him　no　that　baby　was　playing　with　the　ball　and　if　he　took　it　there'd　be　wigs　on　the　green　but　Tommy　said　it　was　his　ball　and　he　wanted　his　ball　and　he　pranced　on　the　ground；　if　you　please。　The　temper　of　him！　O；　he　was　a　man　already　was　little　Tommy　Caffrey　since　he　was　out　of　pinnies。　Edy　told　him　no；　no　and　to　he　off　now　with　him　and　she　told　Cissy　Caffrey　not　to　give　in　to　him。　
　You're　not　my　sister；　naughty　Tommy　said。　It's　my　ball。　But　Cissy　Caffrey　told　baby　Boardman　to　look　up；　look　up　high　at　her　finger　and　she　snatched　the　ball　quickly　and　threw　it　along　the　sand　and　Tommy　after　it　in　full　career；　having　won　the　day。　
　Anything　for　a　quiet　life；　laughed　Ciss。　
And　she　tickled　tiny　tot's　two　cheeks　to　make　him　forget　and　played　here's　the　lord　mayor；　here's　h