'No Charley you don't understand.'
'I don't. That's a fact. I never will I shouldn't be surprised. But I'll say this. You'll live to regret having a kid like that fallen in love over you.'
'He's not,' she lied, it may have been to protect the lad.
'And they say nothing gets past a woman,' Raunce said heavy. 'Why it stands out a mile he is.'
'You're imaginin' Charley,' she said soft.
'Imagining my eye,' he replied. 'But if 'e just wanted to fight for the old country I could agree with the lad.'
She sat up.
'You mean to say you're even considerin' such a step?' she asked.
He answered in a low voice. 'I'm bewitched and bewildered I am really,' he said. 'I don't know what I'm after.'
'Thanks I'm sure,' was her bitter comment.
'Here wait a minute, not so fast,' he exclaimed and leaning forward he got hold of one of her hands on the arm of the other chair. 'Don't get me wrong,' he said. That's dam all to do with you an' me.'
'And your old mother you were so keen to get over?' Edith wanted to know.
'Oh her,' Raunce answered.
There was a miserable pause. Then Edith began again, 'Then what did you intend a week or two back when you made out our place was where we are now and Miss Burch said that about blocking the roads? The time Paddy got the wrong side of you?'
'I expect I had in mind what they told us in the newspapers about stayin' put where you happen to be in an invasion.'
'You don't sound very sure,' she said.
'It's Albert,' he explained. 'My Albert to want to do a thing like that. Why it's almost as if 'e was me own son.'
'I wish he could hear you now after the way you bawl him out.'
'Me?' Raunce said, 'Why I just give him the rough side of my tongue on occasion so that he'll learn a trade,' he said. 'Here give us a kiss,' he added smiling at last.
This time she actually got up in haste and did no less than sit on his knee.
'You don't love me,' she murmured. When he kissed her she kissed him back with such passion, all of her hard as a board, that he flopped back flabbergasted, having caught a glimpse of what was in her waiting for him.
When the other Albert came to the kitchen for his tea that same afternoon he found Mrs Welch asleep with her head on the massive table. Labouring she lifted heavy bloodshot eyes in his direction.
'Well?' she asked.
'I been out,' he answered sly.
'Out where?'
'We was round the back,' he said.
'And who's we?' she wanted to know as she scratched a vast soft thigh. She gave a wide yawn.
'The young leddies,' he replied. He passed a hand over his forehead as if he could tidy his hair with that one gesture and came to sit quiet opposite auntie.
'Not with that Edith?' she enquired sharp.
'Oh no'm.'
'You're positive?' and Mrs Welch leant across. 'For you know what I told you?'
'Yes'm.'
'What was that then?'
'That I weren't to have nothing more to do with 'er ever,' the boy repeated.
'That's right,' Mrs Welch rejoined. She leant back again and left her arms straight out from her bosom resting on closed fists upon the kitchen table. Her dark hair straggled across her face. 'You wouldn't lie to me?' she asked.
'Oh no'm.'
'Because I daren't abandon this kitchen day or night, not till I go to me bed when day is done that is and then I double lock the door. On guard I am,' she announced in a loud voice. 'Because that Edith's no more'n a thief I tell you an' my girls are hand in glove with 'er, I don't need to be told.' She came to a stop and although glaring at him she seemed rather at a loss.
'Yes'm,' he said respectful.
'An' they're in league with the tradesmen, the I. R. A. merchants, the whole lot are,' she went on a bit wild. 'You mark my words,' she finished and closed anguished eyes.
There was a pause. Then he asked a question with such a glance of malice as must have frightened her if she had caught it.
'What's a I. R. A. man auntie?' he enquired.
'Thieves and murderers,' she said half under her breath as though her thoughts were elsewhere.
'Blimey,' he said. If she had looked she would have seen he mocked.
'Makin' out she's too good to have anything to do with us,' Mrs Welch began again. She opened her eyes. 'Sayin' she won't take you along of Miss Moira and Miss Evelyn.' Mrs Welch heaved herself back to the table, propping her head on the palms of her hands. 'The lousy bitch,' she said soft, 'runnin' in double 'arness with that Raunce into the bargain. Oh,' she suddenly yelled, 'if I catch you I'll tan the 'ide right off of you d'you understand?'
Out in the scullery Jane and Mary nodded at one another, at the rise and fall of this thick voice.
'Tan the 'ide off me what for?' the lad asked.
'What for you bastard imp?' she shouted and lumbering while still on her seat she made a slow grab which he easily dodged.
'I ain't done nothing,' he pretended to whine.
'Ah they're in a society with them tradesmen,' she cried out. 'Don't I know it. Why only the other day Jane was got be'ind the monument by one. I made out I never noticed when she told me,' Mrs Welch explained lowering her voice, 'but I marked it well. And I shan't forget,' she added although she seemed short of breath, 'I weren't born yesterday,' she said.