Page 226 - sons-and-lovers

romantic rags of King Cophetua’s beggar-maid.
She suddenly became aware of his keen blue eyes upon
her, taking her all in. Instantly her broken boots and her
frayed old frock hurt her. She resented his seeing every-
thing. Even he knew that her stocking was not pulled up.
She went into the scullery, blushing deeply. And afterwards
her hands trembled slightly at her work. She nearly dropped
all she handled. When her inside dream was shaken, her
body quivered with trepidation. She resented that he saw
so much.
Mrs. Leivers sat for some time talking to the boy, al-
though she was needed at her work. She was too polite to
leave him. Presently she excused herself and rose. After a
while she looked into the tin saucepan.
‘Oh DEAR, Miriam,’ she cried, ‘these potatoes have
boiled dry!’
Miriam started as if she had been stung.
‘HAVE they, mother?’ she cried.
‘I shouldn’t care, Miriam,’ said the mother, ‘if I hadn’t
trusted them to you.’ She peered into the pan.
The girl stiffened as if from a blow. Her dark eyes dilated;
she remained standing in the same spot.
‘Well,’ she answered, gripped tight in self-conscious
shame, ‘I’m sure I looked at them five minutes since.’
‘Yes,’ said the mother, ‘I know it’s easily done.’
‘They’re not much burned,’ said Paul. ‘It doesn’t matter,
does it?’
Mrs. Leivers looked at the youth with her brown, hurt
eyes.