'He what?'
'He was,' she said. Albert sobbed suddenly unrestrained as though somehow he had come unstoppered. 'You don't understand these things, I do,' she said. Then she bent down. Before Raunce's eyes she kissed the lad's cheek. 'There, thanks kid,' she said. But Albert, not looking, made a move to strike her away without however hitting her.
'Did you see what 'e done then?' Raunce asked low. 'I'll learn 'im.'
'Let him be dearest,' she advised and the boy ran out. Raunce shut the door Albert had left open.
'Well I don't know,' he began, taking her by the shoulders. She looked into his face. 'The dirty tyke,' he said. 'But we got to find it.'
'All right,' she replied, 'an' I'm goin' to start with my Miss Moira. You go off, I'll handle this best alone. And don't you lay hands on that Albert. It's the other I have my suspicions of,' she ended.
When Raunce was gone she went to the window. She called the child.
The little girl came running, stood moist in the sun before Edith.
'Where've you been Miss Moira?' She asked sweet.
'Why out by the dovecote Edith.'
'Look at you then,' Edith scolded gently and squatted down. 'Just see the state you're in. You'll be landin' me in such trouble if you don't take good care when your grandma gets back.'
'Is grandma coming?'
'She is that,' Edith said smiling as she began to clear up the child's glowing face with her own grubby handkerchief.
'Is mummy too?'
'I couldn't say love. Whatever've you been at to get in such a state?'
'I hope mummy doesn't come.'
'Hark at you,' Edith said letting it go.
'I do. 'Cos that Captain Davenport will be over all the time when she does.'
'Hush dear,' Edith said sharp, 'someone'll hear. And you shouldn't mention such a thing even to your own Edith.'
'I don't like him.'
'It's not for us to like or not like. You're too little.'
'Darling Edith why are you looking so excited?'
Edith giggled. 'Am I?' she asked, wiping away at stains on Miss Moira's deep blue skirt.
'You should see yourself.'
'Well I expect I've had a day and a half. But what've you been up to? That's what I want to be told thanks.'
'Edith why are you?'
'Can you keep secrets ducky?' Edith asked in reply.
'A secret oo how lovely,' Miss Moira exclaimed.
'I don't suppose you know how.'
'Oh I promise. Let my lips be sealed,' the child said. May I drop dead she added to herself.
'Well then. Only don't breathe to nobody mind. Your Edith's had a proposal.'
'Oh Edith has Albert at last? And are you going to marry him?'
Edith put the handkerchief away and kissed her.
'There that's better,' she said.
'Do tell,' the child pleaded warm.
'One secret for another,' Edith announced. 'You say what you've been along of.'
'Will you marry him then?'
'Look I've told you my secret. Now you come out with yours. Fair's fair,' Edith said.
'We've been with Albert.'
'That's no secret.'
'It was.'
'What's dark about that then?' Edith wanted to know.
'He's got my grandma's ring. The one she lost.'
'Has he so? And what's he done with it?' Edith enquired casual.
'I don't know,' the little girl lied, on account of dropping dead perhaps.
'Which Albert, yours or mine?' Edith asked soft.
'Mine,' Miss Moira answered. 'Oh I do love him.'
'Are you goin' to be married?'
'Of course.'