gy. If it had not previously occurred to Alf to think of the difficulty quite as clearly as he was now being made to do, that must have been because he thought of Emmy as imbedded in domestic affairs. After all, damn it, as he was thinking; if you want one girl it is rotten luck to be fobbed off with another. Alf knew quite well the devastating phrase, at one time freely used as an irresistible quip (like "There's hair" or "That's all right, tell your mother; it'll be ninepence") by which one suggested disaster-"And that spoilt his evening." The phr

rmly on the ground and bringing his wandering fi

"That's not the sort of language to use before Pa! He's not u

spluttered Alf, glaring at her

I always do, when the manager sends for me. Think I'm going to get the sack." She thought he was going to bellow at her: "I hear they wan

t for?" he asked,

d you think? Why, the girls all t

perated determination. "You know what I'm talking about. Oh,

e looked fixedly at her wor

mmy, aren't you!" she prevari

er, because she's said she'll go

er head. "Oh, no, Alf Rylett. You mustn't blame me. Take my advice, my boy. You be very glad Emmy's going. If you mea

Jenny: I want to know what's going on. You've always come with me before." He glared at her in perplexity, puzzled to the depth

with Pa till he thinks she's a fixture. Well, why shouldn't she have a little pleasure? You get her some chocs ... at that shop. ... You know. It'll be the treat of her life. She'll be as grateful to you for it. ... Oh, I'm very glad she's got the chance of go

, once again. "That's all bally fine. Sounds well as you put it; but you knew as wel

dled. He had never

elfish as ... as dirt beside her. Look a little closer, my lad. You'll see Em's worth two of me.

's behalf, if it had not influenced him, had sent a warm thrill of conviction through her own heart. When she came thus to feel deeply she knew as if by instinct that Emmy, irritable unsatisfied Emmy, was as much superior to Alf as she herself was superior to him. A wave of arrogance

lucky; my lad!" she repeated

ace made keen by the strength of his resolve, Jenny felt her heart turn to water. She was physically afraid of him, not because he had any power to move her, but because in sheer bullock-like strength he was too much for her, as in tenacity he had equally an advantage. As a skirmisher, or in guerrilla warfare, in which he might always retire to a hidden fastness, baf

en," he said. "

nceless. She had plenty of pluck, plenty of adroitness; but she could only play the sex game with Alf very crudely because he was not fine enough to be diverted by such finesse as she could employ. All Jenny could d

he retorted defiantly. "You needn't

eaty at the kicking clock which lay so helplessly upon its side. If only

ll full by now. The people are all in. They're tuning up for the

e. It was because I wanted to take you. It's no good denying it. That's enough. Somehow-I

sted. Alf took no notice of her in

t to find with her. But she's not you. An

Besides, Alf,"-she began to appeal to him, in an attempt to wheed

ominous obstinacy. His eyes were fixed upon her with an unwinking stare. It was as though, having delivered a blow

as she had done, as a little girl, in playing touch; when, with a swerve, she had striven to elude the pursuer. So

ch, if he had tried to answer it, might have diverted him from the stern chase upon whi

ite enough of that. Now the question is-and it

You did i

lapping the table in a sudden fury, an

ken truly. She was deeply offended. They were both now sparkl

ll. Never! It's a drop for you, you think, to take Emmy out. A bit of kindness on your part. She's not up to West End style. That it? But you needn't think you're too good for her. There's no reason, I'm sure. You're not!... All because you're a man. Auch! I'm sick of the men! You think you've only got to whistle. Yes, you do! You think i

d interruption stopped the argume

ants with an eye that for one instant seemed the eye of perfect comprehension. It frightened Jenny as much as it disc

se. Alf resumed after the baffled pause. "Yes. You've got him all right enough...." Then: "You're trying to turn it off with your monkey tricks!" he said suddenly. "But I see what it is. I was a fool not to spot it at once. You've got some other

sperate cry, from h

he matter with me? Anything? I know I'm not much of a one to shout the odds about. I don't expect you to do that. Never did. But I never played you a trick like this. What is it? What's the game you

dn't meant to take her to-night, it ud break her heart. It would. There!" Her voice had now the ring o

less ruddy. He looked quickly

be untruthful, could not resist him at all; but with the table between them she was safe from any attack. He was powerless. And he could not say he loved her. He would never be able to bring himself to say that to any woman. A woman might ask him if he loved her, and he would awkwardly answer that of course he did; bu

, reproachfully eyeing her with the old bull-like concern. "I'm not worth thinki

nds stretched towards her across the table, as near to making love as he would ever be. It was his last faint hope for the changing o

ood, Alf. It'll never be a

i

that moment, when the two were striving for mastery, the door opened and Emmy came back into the room. She was fully dressed for going out,

hat the clinging hands were instantly apart, or that Alf rose hurriedly to meet her. "What's that?" she asked, in a trembling ton

oking at neither girl. Emmy tried to speak again; but at first the wo

take me, Alf? Did

hange in her mind. Perhaps it was that in her flushed happiness she had forgotten to be suspicious, or had

ckly cried Jenny. "Of co

f her class do so generally regard the men they love, ready to yield judgment itself to his decision. When he did not answer, but stood still before them like a red-fac

no time for a scene." Turning to Alf, she motioned him w

ning hands. "It's no good fussing me, Jenny.... I'm

angry glances, each bi

shouted. "

a fool to think he wanted me." Then, looking with a sort of crazed disdain at Jenny, she said coo

as if to ward off some further revelation. Jenny, desperate, had her hands highe

wouldn't go-even if he wanted me. But he wants you!" She again seized Emmy, delaying once more Emmy's mechanical unfastening of the big buttons o

mmy said, clearly. "I know I

ghed hyst

laimed. "He's been doi

going to happen to

watching Alf's too-t

lying beast," she said,

defiantly to Alf. "Wh

e fool with Alf!" Emmy's voice rose. "You always

ectrifying suddenness,

et?" he trembled. "I th

incapable of giving any explanation to the meekly inquiring old man who had disturbed their quarrel

ped, took her hands, and drew her to her feet. Then, with uncommon tenderness, he re-buttoned her coat, and, with one arm about he

y steps went and slammed the door of the kitchen. Trembling violently, she leant against the door, as Emmy had done earlier. For a moment she could not speak, could not

's do