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Robinson was veryshort and very plump and very waddly. Yealways hear her afore
ye see her, that one, sniffed Judy.
They say shes a very careful, saving woman,
said Long Alec. Doye rimimber how ye always hated to give up any av yer ould
clothes,Patsy? It is so hard to remember that he is dead. Judy, this love
business is no end of a bother. Do you remember how he always came to meet
usthose Friday evenings when we came home from college? She nearly went crazy
till shefound out different. She had notgraced the party but had come over to
find out what was keeping Tomso late.
He was tall and thin and saturnine, with
hair ofpepper and salt. Judys trunk was in the middle of the kitchen
floor.
Uncle Tom gave a leather suit-caseand mother a beautiful brush and comb
and hand mirror.
Tillytucks nicknames had a habit of sticking.
But the door of
Silver Bush remained cruelly closed.
Where was Sids Dorothy, with her sweet
dark face?
But thinks I to mesilf, Id looklike a nice fool backing out now,
after all thim prisents, thinksI.
Judys trunk was in the middle of the kitchen
floor. There were only three people hed sleep with .
In mid-afternoon it began
to rain again, battering everything downin the desolate garden. Been wondering
whyyou didnt have any round.
Puddleduck was already making a cake and looking
quiteat home. Oh, oh, yell be doing that once too often, me jewel,
predictedJudy darkly. Puddleduckbettern me and her as smooth as crame. Ma
always makes me do that after a spree. He did be purtinding to be mad about it
but Imbelaving he did it on purpose to make a sinsation. But the book David
Kirk lent him did not please him atall.
Expecting tohave fried chicken for
breakfast when it was four oclock after aparty! There were people inlove all
over the place. And while he cudnt be said to talk he does bemanaging to get
things said.
That left four months to beaccounted for.
Times have changed since
we were young,Alec.
Finding aparty in full swing he had decided not to show
himself until it wasover. He wouldnt sleep with Geordie orme out of our turn
but the cook had to be dealt with.
Patsy dear, said Judy soberly, theres a
favour Id be askingye. I dont know how well ever get through the winter, said
Pat.
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