Улисс

           Gertyjusttookoffherhatforamomenttosettleherhairandaprettier,adaintierheadofnutbrowntresseswasneverseenonagirl’sshoulders—aradiantlittlevision,insooth,almostmaddeninginitssweetness.Youwouldhavetotravelmanyalongmilebeforeyoufoundaheadofhairthelikeofthat.Shecouldalmostseetheswiftansweringflashofadmirationinhiseyesthatsethertinglingineverynerve.Sheputonherhatsothatshecouldseefromunderneaththebrimandswungherbuckledshoefasterforherbreathcaughtasshecaughttheexpressioninhiseyes.Hewaseyingherasasnakeeyesitsprey.Herwoman’sinstincttoldherthatshehadraisedthedevilinhimandatthethoughtaburningscarletsweptfromthroattobrowtillthelovelycolourofherfacebecameagloriousrose.

           EdyBoardmanwasnoticingittoobecauseshewassquintingatGerty,halfsmiling,withherspecslikeanoldmaid,pretendingtonursethebaby.Irritablelittlegnatshewasandalwayswouldbeandthatwaswhyno-onecouldgetonwithherpokinghernoseintowhatwasnoconcernofhers.AndshesaidtoGerty:

           —Apennyforyourthoughts.

           —What?repliedGertywithasmilereinforcedbythewhitestofteeth.Iwasonlywonderingwasitlate.

           Becauseshewishedtogoodnessthey’dtakethesnottynosedtwinsandtheirbabbyhometothemischiefoutofthatsothatwaswhyshejustgaveagentlehintaboutitsbeinglate.AndwhenCissycameupEdyaskedherthetimeandMissCissy,asglibasyoulike,saiditwashalfpastkissingtime,timetokissagain.