Page 634 - sons-and-lovers

cover him, his position, what he was now. But there was not
much in the room to help her. It only made her feel rather
sad, it was so hard and comfortless.
She was curiously examining a sketch-book when he re-
turned with the coffee.
‘There’s nothing new in it,’ he said, ‘and nothing very in-
teresting.’
He put down the tray, and went to look over her shoul-
der. She turned the pages slowly, intent on examining
everything.
‘H’m!’ he said, as she paused at a sketch. ‘I’d forgotten
that. It’s not bad, is it?’
‘No,’ she said. ‘I don’t quite understand it.’
He took the book from her and went through it. Again
he made a curious sound of surprise and pleasure.
‘There’s some not bad stuff in there,’ he said.
‘Not at all bad,’ she answered gravely.
He felt again her interest in his work. Or was it for him-
self? Why was she always most interested in him as he
appeared in his work?
They sat down to supper.
‘By the way,’ he said, ‘didn’t I hear something about your
earning your own living?’
‘Yes,’ she replied, bowing her dark head over her cup.
‘And what of it?’
‘I’m merely going to the farming college at Broughton for
three months, and I shall probably be kept on as a teacher
there.’
‘I say—that sounds all right for you! You always wanted