All three girls stood before tubs, their sleeves rolled up,
their arms in the lather. At his apparition there was a characteristic
chorus of cheeps and shrills and the door was banged to. Mrs. Beamish
alone came out to greet him. She was moist and blown, and smelt of soap.
Not in a mood to mince matters, he announced straightway the object of
his visit. He was prepared for some expression of surprise on the part
of the good woman; but the blend of sheep-faced amazement and uncivil
incredulity to which she subjected him made him hot and angry; and he
vouchsafed no further word of explanation.
Mrs. Beamish presently so far recovered as to be able to finish wiping
the suds from her fat red arms.
Thereafter, she gave way to a very feminine weakness.
"Well, and now I come to think of it, I'm blessed if I didn't suspeck
somethin' of it, right from the first! Why, didn't I say to Beamish,
with me own lips, 'ow you couldn't 'ardly take your eyes off 'er? Well,
well, I'm sure I wish you every 'appiness--though 'ow we're h'ever
goin' to get on without Polly, I reelly don't know. Don't I wish it 'ad
bin one o' my two as 'ad tuck your fancy--that's all! Between you an'
me, I don't believe a blessed thing's goin' to come of all young Smith's
danglin' round. An' Polly's still a bit young--only just turned
sixteen. Not as she's any the worse o' that though; you'll get 'er h'all
the easier into your ways. An' now I mus' look smart, an' get you a bite
o' somethin' after your ride.
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