The 'Mind the Paint' Girl - BestLightNovel.com
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I s'pose it was wot's called love at first sight, Lil.
LILY.
[_Laughing shamefacedly._] Ha, ha, ha! [_Putting her feet to the ground and s.h.i.+elding her face with her hands._] Oh, don't talk rot, mother.
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Moving away._] Any'ow, it's not too late, Lil-- even now----
LILY.
Not too late----?
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Behind the centre table._] To back out, dearie. The Captain couldn't possibly 'old you to a 'asty promise given 'im between four an' five in the mornin'.
LILY.
Oh! Oh, how _can_ you! I've pa.s.sed my word to Nicko and I wouldn't break it for twenty thousand pounds. [_Looking up._] Mother----!
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Fussing with the things upon the table._] Yes?
LILY.
[_Resolutely._] I'm going to pull Nicko _up_, mother. I've dragged him down, and I mean to raise him. [_Clenching her hands._] So help me G.o.d, I do!
MRS. UPJOHN.
Well, you've got a tough job before you, Lil, in my opinion.
LILY.
Perhaps; but I mean to succeed. [_After a pause._] Besides----
MRS. UPJOHN.
Besides----?
LILY.
[_Slowly._] I've told you-- Nicko or no Nicko-- I'm determined-- I'm determined not to draw Eddie Farncombe into my net.
MRS. UPJOHN.
Into your _net_? [_Another pause._] Lil----
LILY.
Eh?
MRS. UPJOHN.
That's twice you've made use o' that remark. 'Oo's accused you----?
[_There is a lively rat-tat at the door on the left._] Come in!
[_The door opens and JIMMIE BIRCH bounces into the room._
JIMMIE.
[_As she closes the door._] Ah, Ma! Ah, Lillums!
MRS. UPJOHN.
Good mornin'.
JIMMIE.
[_Kissing MRS. UPJOHN._] Ha, ha! We've met before, this morning, haven't we! [_Coming to LILY._] Well, dear old girl, and how are _you_ to-day? [_Kissing LILY and then eyeing her keenly._] A wreck?
LILY.
Rather.
JIMMIE.
I _ought_ to be, but I'm not. Directly I laid my pretty head on my pillow I went off, and never stirred till I found the breakfast-tray on my chest. [_Reckoning on her fingers._] Five to six-- six to seven-- seven to eight-- eight to nine-- nine to ten-- ten to eleven.
I've had six hours; that's not so dusty. [_To LILY, slyly._] You didn't sleep very soundly, probably?
LILY.
Not very.
JIMMIE.
[_Smiling from ear to ear._] Excited? [_LILY shrugs her shoulders.
There is a silence and then JIMMIE, still beaming, looks round and sees that MRS. UPJOHN has seated herself upon the fauteuil-stool._]
May I sit down for a minute?
LILY.
Of course, Jimmie; do.
[_JIMMIE sits in the arm-chair by the centre table, awaiting some communication which doesn't come. MRS. UPJOHN drums upon the table with her fingers and LILY busies herself with re-arranging the cus.h.i.+ons on the settee._
JIMMIE.
