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He couldn't have called before we got here, because if he had Mrs. Tams would have told us." Louis nodded. "Didn't you think Mr. Batchgrew looked very queer when you mentioned Julian to-night?" Rachel continued to express her curiosity and wonder. "No. I didn't notice anything particular," Louis replied vaguely. Throughout the conversation his manner was self-conscious.
Tarns," said Rachel calmly. "She mustn't come in now," Louis protested. "Come in, Mrs. Tams," Rachel repeated decisively. And Mrs. Tams entered, curtsying towards the bed. "What is it?" Rachel asked her. "It's the greengrocer's cart, ma'am." The greengrocer usually did send round on Saturday mornings. "I'll go down. Just clear up that washstand, will you?"
Batchgrew, after hesitating and clearing his throat, proceeded up the steps, defiling them. As he did so Mrs. Tams screwed together all her features and clenched her hands as if in agony, and stared horribly at the open front door, which was blowing to. It seemed that she was trying to arrest the front door by sheer force of muscular contraction. She did not succeed.
But in his exquisite demeanour there was a faint reserve of melancholy which persisted. She had not yet that morning been able to put it to flight; she counted, however, on doing so very soon, and in the meantime it did not daunt her. After all, was it not natural? She began "I say, what do you think? Mrs. Tams has given me notice."
Maldon was puzzled. "This morning, do you mean, dear?" she asked. Tears stood in Rachel's eyes. She could not speak, but she nodded her head. And then another sentence burst from her full breast: "And you told Mrs. Tams she wasn't to tell me Mr. Batchgrew'd called!" "I've not seen or heard anything of Mr. Batchgrew," said Mrs. Maldon. "But I did hear you and Louis talking outside last night."
It made Ellen feel meaner and smaller and more insignificant every minute. The freshman pressed her forehead wearily against the glass. "Oh, look! There come the girls. They're your friends away down on the lawn. Miss Abbott, I think, and Miss Leigh, and Miss Sanders. See, see! The rollicking wind and the racing clouds! Their skirts blow. They hold on their tams. They are looking up at us.
"I thought I had a load this morning, but I'd hate to swap packs with you," he said. The Frenchman flashed him a smile which exposed a row of teeth snow-white against his tan. "Ho! You're stronger as me. I see you plenty tams biffore." This was indeed agreeable praise, and Pierce showed his pleasure. "Oh no!" he modestly protested. "I'm just getting broken in."
Tams, quite forgetful of etiquette, followed Rachel, unasked, into the parlour. "What?" said Louis loudly. "Two of you! Isn't one enough?" Mrs. Tams vanished. "Heath took charge of the bikes," Louis murmured, as if to the ceiling. Over half an hour elapsed before the gate creaked. "There he is!" Rachel exclaimed happily.
Amid all her quite real distress she was proud and happy proud because she was old enough and independent enough and audacious enough to quarrel with her lover, and happy because she had suddenly discovered life. "Mrs. Tams!" said Mrs. Maldon, in a low, alarmed, and urgent voice. The gas was turned down in the bedroom, and Mrs.
"Well," Louis remarked with liveliness, "if you aren't outside this house in one minute, in sixty seconds, I shall put you out, neck and crop." Mrs. Tams smiled. His amiability was returning, he had done her the honour to tease her. She departed, all her "things" being ready in the kitchen.
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