KIPPS
perhaps. She talked—like a Call a'most. She said—what was it she said about her mother? 'My mother's overcome with grief,' she said, 'so naturally everything comes on me.'"
"And she told you to get someone to 'elp you?"
"Yes. I been to old Bean."
"O' Bean?"
"Yes. What I took my business away from!"
"What did he say?"
"He was a bit off'and at first, but then 'e come round. He couldn't tell me anything till 'e knew the facts. What I know of young Walshingham, there won't be much 'elp in the facts. No!"
He reflected for a space. "It's a smash-up, Ann. More likely than not, Ann, 'e's left us over'ead in debt. We got to get out of it just 'ow we can. . . .
"We got to begin again," he went on. "'Ow, I don't know. All the way 'ome—my 'ead's been going. We got to get a living some'ow or other. 'Aving time to ourselves, and a bit of money to spend, and no hurry and worry, it's all over for ever, Ann. We was fools, Ann. We didn't know our benefits. We been caught. Gord!. . . Gord!"
He was on the verge of "banging about" again.
They heard a jingle in the passage, the large soft impact of a servant's indoor boots. As if she were a part, a mitigatory part of Fate, came Gwendolen to lay the midday meal. Kipps displayed self-control forthwith. Ann picked up the bib again and bent over it, and the Kippses bore themselves gloomily perhaps, but not despairfully, while their dependant was in the room. She spread the cloth and put out
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