第69章

Me blood's that bad fer want of proper food an'nourishment."She began to unfasten a dirty bandage below her knee.Clara turned her head in disgust.

The flesh was covered with ulcerated sores.

"I don't know 'ow you find 'im,Miss Grimes,"she continued,her voice rising in anger,"but if yer believe me,a meaner man niver walked the earth.I've 'ad ter pawn the things in this very room ter pay the baker an'the grocer.That's 'ow 'e makes 'is money.Starvin''is own wife ter squeeze a few shillin's for 'is bankin'account.'E knows I can't go outside the door,'cause I've got nuthin'ter put on;but 'e takes jolly good care ter go down town an'live on the fat of the land."From the next room came the fitful,awkward sounds of a five-finger exercise from Ray.Clara listened with silent contempt to this torrent of abuse.She knew that it was false that the more Jonah gave her,the more she spent on drink.And as she looked at Ada's face,ravaged by alcohol,a stealthy thought crept into her mind that set her heart beating.

Suddenly Ada's anger dropped like a spent fire.

"Did yer say Mr Jones was busy in the shop?"she inquired,feebly.

"No,"said Clara,"I understand that he went down town on important business,and won't be back till late.""Thank yer,"said Ada,with a curious glitter in her eyes."Would yer mind callin'Ray in?I want ter send 'im on a message to the grocer's."Clara went into the next room and sent Ray to his mother,stopping for a minute to shut the keyboard and put the music straight.After every lesson she was accustomed to examine the piano as if it were her own property.When she entered the bedroom again,Ada was whispering rapidly to Ray.She looked up as Clara entered,and gave him some money in a piece of paper.

"An'tell 'im I'll send the rest to-morrer,"she added aloud.Ray went down the back stairs,swinging an empty millet-bag in his hand.For another five minutes Clara remained standing,to show that she was anxious to get away,while Ada abused her husband,giving detailed accounts of his meanness and neglect.Suddenly her mood changed.

"I'm afraid I mustn't keep yer any longer,Miss Grimes,"she said abruptly;"an'thank yer fer lookin'in ter see 'ow I was."Clara,surprised and relieved at the note of dismissal in her voice,took her leave.

She went down the winding staircase at the rear of the shop,opposite the cashier's desk.The pungent odour of leather was delightful in her nostrils after the stale smell of the room above,and she halted at the turn of the landing to admire the huge shop,glittering with varnish,mirrors,and brass rods.Then she looked round for Jonah,but he was nowhere to be seen.

The sight of Ada,ravaged by alcohol,had filled her with strange thoughts,and she walked up Regent Street,comparing Ada with her own father,who seemed to thrive on beer.There must be some difference in their constitutions,for Ada was clearly going to pieces,and.the thought entered her mind again that quickened her pulse.She had never thought of that!She was passing the "Angel"with its huge white globes and glittering mirrors that reflected the sun's rays,when she caught sight of Ray coming out of the side door,swinging an empty millet-bag in his hand.

A sudden light flashed on her mind.Ada's invitation into the bedroom,the inquiry about Jonah,and her sudden dismissal all meant this.

"Did you get what your mother wanted?"she asked the child,with a thumping sensation in her heart.

"No,"said Ray carelessly;"the man wouldn't give me the medicine.He told me to go home and fetch the rest of the money.""How much more do you want?"asked Clara,in a curious tone.

"Eighteen pence,"said Ray,showing two half-crowns in his hand.

Clara hesitated,with parched lips.She remembered Ada's face,ravaged by brandy.She was a physical wreck,and six months ago.perhaps another bottle.

The thought grazed her mind with a stealthy,horrible suggestion.She felt in her purse with trembling fingers,and found a shilling and a sixpence.

"Go and get your mother's medicine,"she whispered,putting the money into Ray's hand;"but don't tell her that you met me,or she may scold you."Ray turned in at the side door,and Clara,white to the lips,hurried round the corner.

It took Ray half an hour to cover the short distance between the Angel and the Silver Shoe,with a bottle of brandy swinging carelessly in the millet-bag.Cassidy himself,all smiles,had carefully wrapped it in paper.Ray had promised to hurry home with the medicine for his mother,but,as usual,the shop windows were irresistible.Some of his early trips to the "Angel"had taken half a day.

Meanwhile Ada lay on the bed in an agony of attention,atrociously alert to every sound,hearing with every nerve in her body.Her nerves had collapsed under the repeated debauches,and the scream of an engine shunting in the railway yards went through her like a knife.The confused rumble of carts in Regent Street,the familiar sounds from the shop below,the slamming of a door,a voice raised in inquiry,the monotonous,kindly echoes of life,struck on the raw edges of her nerves,exasperating her to madness.

And through it all her ears sought for two sounds with agonizing acuteness--the firm,rapid step of Jonah mounting the stairs winding from the shop,or the nonchalant,laggard footfall of Ray ascending from the stairs at the rear.Would Cassidy send the bottle and trust her for the other eighteen pence?Would Jonah hurry back to meet Miss Grimes?

Presently her ear distinguished the light,uncertain step of Ray.Every nerve in her body leapt for joy when she saw the bottle.She looked at the clock,it was nearly four.She had at least an hour clear,for Jonah would be in no hurry now that he had missed the music-lesson.She snatched the bag from the astonished child.

"Go an'see if yer father's in the shop.If 'e ain't there,yer can go an'play in the lane till 'e comes back,"she cried.