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So having made their adieux, the three took their departure; though once, despite Joe's objurgations, the Old Un must needs come back to kiss Mrs. Trapes's toil-worn hand with a flourish which left her voiceless and round of eye until the clatter of their feet had died away. Then she closed the door and fixed Ravenslee with her stoniest stare. "Mr.
"Oh, Geoffrey, dear, do give her that precious package; I'm dying to see her open it!" So Ravenslee drew the jeweller's neat parcel from his pocket and put it into Mrs. Trapes's toil-worn hand. For a moment her bony fingers clutched it, then she sighed tremulously and, placing it on the table, rose and stood staring down at it. When at last she spoke, her voice was harsher than usual.
"The labourer is worthy of his hire!" she sighed, apparently addressing the bonnet, "but, if so be the labourer ain't worthy, why then, the sooner he quits " A sound of quick, light feet upon the stair and a voice that laughed gaily, a laugh so full of happiness that even Mrs. Trapes's iron features relaxed, and her grim mouth curved in her rare smile.
"And surely I may kiss my wife's slipper without you having to blush so so deliciously, Hermione?" "It's so old and shabby!" said she faintly. "That's why I kiss it." "An' here comes th' doctor!" said Mrs. Trapes. Whereat Hermione incontinent fled away, white foot agleam. Then Ravenslee, having kissed the little slipper quite brazenly under Mrs. Trapes's staring eyes, tucked it beneath his pillow.
An' why an' wherefore that blush?" "Oh, Ann Ann, dear!" Down went sock and needle and, falling on her knees, Hermione clasped her arms about Mrs. Trapes and hid her glowing face in her lap. "Ann, dear, I'm so happy!" she sighed her speech a little muffled by reason of the voluminous folds of Mrs. Trapes's snowy apron. "Happy?" said Mrs.
Trapes's grimness abated, and her bristling elbows subsided; and now, perceiving how the abashed Spider, meeting her eye, flushed, plucked at his cuffs, and shuffled his feet, she reached out to pat his broad and drooping shoulder. "Mister Connolly," said she, "for harsh words spoke in haste I craves now your pardon, an' I craves it humble. Am I forgive?"
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