Page 195 - sons-and-lovers

‘Oh no! We’re only too thankful to see a new face, it’s so
lost up here.’
‘I suppose so,’ said Mrs. Morel.
They were taken through into the parlour—a long, low
room, with a great bunch of guelder-roses in the fireplace.
There the women talked, whilst Paul went out to survey the
land. He was in the garden smelling the gillivers and look-
ing at the plants, when the girl came out quickly to the heap
of coal which stood by the fence.
‘I suppose these are cabbage-roses?’ he said to her, point-
ing to the bushes along the fence.
She looked at him with startled, big brown eyes.
‘I suppose they are cabbage-roses when they come out?’
he said.
‘I don’t know,’ she faltered. ‘They’re white with pink mid-
dles.’
‘Then they’re maiden-blush.’
Miriam flushed. She had a beautiful warm colouring.
‘I don’t know,’ she said.
‘You don’t have MUCH in your garden,’ he said.
‘This is our first year here,’ she answered, in a distant,
rather superior way, drawing back and going indoors. He
did not notice, but went his round of exploration. Presently
his mother came out, and they went through the buildings.
Paul was hugely delighted.
‘And I suppose you have the fowls and calves and pigs to
look after?’ said Mrs. Morel to Mrs. Leivers.
‘No,’ replied the little woman. ‘I can’t find time to look
after cattle, and I’m not used to it. It’s as much as I can do to

1 Sons and Lovers