'She is going home tonight.'
'Then she'd better have the dog-cart. Does she go far?'
'Only to Beldover.'
'Ah!' The elderly woman never looked at Gudrun, yet she seemed to take
knowledge of her presence.
'You are inclined to take too much on yourself, Gerald,' said the
mother, pulling herself to her feet, with a little difficulty.
'Will you go, mother?' he asked, politely.
'Yes, I'll go up again,' she replied. Turning to Gudrun, she bade her
'Good-night.' Then she went slowly to the door, as if she were
unaccustomed to walking. At the door she lifted her face to him,
implicitly. He kissed her.
'Don't come any further with me,' she said, in her barely audible
voice. 'I don't want you any further.'
He bade her good-night, watched her across to the stairs and mount
slowly. Then he closed the door and came back to Gudrun. Gudrun rose
also, to go.
'A queer being, my mother,' he said.
'Yes,' replied Gudrun.
'She has her own thoughts.'
'Yes,' said Gudrun.
Then they were silent.
Pages:
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683