No More Learning

That's not bad for one year's work. Is that and
a hundred and twenty pounds a year good enough? "

The idleness and the pretty clothes were almost within her reach now,
but she must, by being housewifely, show that she deserved them.

"Yes; but you'd have to move, and if we took an inventory, I think we'd
find that Mr. Beeton has been prigging little things out of the rooms
here and there. They don't look as full as they used. "

"Never mind, we'll let him have them. The only thing I'm particularly
anxious to take away is that picture I used you for--when you used to
swear at me. We'll pull out of this place, Bess, and get away as far as
ever we can. "

"Oh yes," she said uneasily.

"I don't know where I can go to get away from myself, but I'll try,
and you shall have all the pretty frocks that you care for. You'll like
that. Give me that kiss now, Bess. Ye gods! it's good to put one's arm
round a woman's waist again.
"

Then came the fulfilment of the prophecy within the brain. If his arm
were thus round Maisie's waist and a kiss had just been given and
taken between them,--why then. . . He pressed the girl more closely to
himself because the pain whipped him. She was wondering how to explain
a little accident to the Melancolia. At any rate, if this man really
desired the solace of her company--and certainly he would relapse into
his original slough if she withdrew it--he would not be more than just a
little vexed.

It would be delightful at least to see what would happen, and by
her teachings it was good for a man to stand in certain awe of his
companion.

She laughed nervously, and slipped out of his reach.

"I shouldn't worrit about that picture if I was you," she began, in the
hope of turning his attention.

"It's at the back of all my canvases somewhere. Find it, Bess; you know
it as well as I do. "

"I know--but--"

"But what? You've wit enough to manage the sale of it to a dealer.
Women haggle much better than men. It might be a matter of eight or nine
hundred pounds to--to us.