"God bless my soul! why couldn't you say
so before? And why the deuce didn't you yourself attend--"
"We can go into all that afterwards."
But Rogers was not one of those who could deal rapidly with the
unexpected: he continued to vent his surprise, and to shoot distrustful
glances at his companion. He was flurried, too, at being driven forward
quicker than he had a mind to go, and said sulkily that Mahony must take
full responsibility for what they were about to do. Mahony hardly heard
him; he was looking at the instruments laid out on the table. His
fingers itched to close round them.
"I'll prepare my wife," he said briskly. And going into the bedroom he
bent over the pillow. It was damp with the sweat that had dripped from
Polly's head when the pains were on her.
"'Ere, you girl, get in quick now with your bucket and cloth, and give
that place a good clean-up afore that pore lamb opens 'er eyes again.
I'm cooked--that's what I am!" and sitting heavily down on the
kitchen-chair, Mrs. Beamish wiped her face towards the four points of the
compass.
Piqued by an unholy curiosity young Ellen willingly obeyed. But a minute
later she was back, having done no more than set her pail down inside
the bedroom door. "Oh, sure, Mrs. Beamish, and I can't do't!" she cried
shrilly. "It's jus' like Andy Soakes's shop . . . when they've bin
quarterin' a sheep."
"I'll QUARTER you, you lazy trollop, you!" cried Mrs. Beamish, rising to
her aching legs again; and her day-old anxiety found vent in a hearty
burst of temper.
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