Page 392 - sons-and-lovers

side the clothes. She passed her hand down his back to feel
him. He was alive and hers. The other was dead.
He went out to dinner several times in his evening suit
that had been William’s. Each time his mother’s heart was
firm with pride and joy. He was started now. The studs she
and the children had bought for William were in his shirt-
front; he wore one of William’s dress shirts. But he had an
elegant figure. His face was rough, but warm-looking and
rather pleasing. He did not look particularly a gentleman,
but she thought he looked quite a man.
He told her everything that took place, everything that
was said. It was as if she had been there. And he was dy-
ing to introduce her to these new friends who had dinner at
seven-thirty in the evening.
‘Go along with you!’ she said. ‘What do they want to
know me for?’
‘They do!’ he cried indignantly. ‘If they want to know
me—and they say they do—then they want to know you,
because you are quite as clever as I am. ‘
‘Go along with you, child! ‘ she laughed.
But she began to spare her hands. They, too, were work-
gnarled now. The skin was shiny with so much hot water,
the knuckles rather swollen. But she began to be careful to
keep them out of soda. She regretted what they had been—
so small and exquisite. And when Annie insisted on her
having more stylish blouses to suit her age, she submitted.
She even went so far as to allow a black velvet bow to be
placed on her hair. Then she sniffed in her sarcastic man-
ner, and was sure she looked a sight. But she looked a lady,

1