The Definite Object Part 61

"Meanin' what, Hermy?"

Hermione was darning one of Spike's much-mended socks, while Mrs. Trapes sat drinking tea. "Meanin' jest what is wonderful, my dear, and--since when?" she persisted.

"Oh--everything, Ann!"

"Yes, you said everything before. S'pose you tell me jest the one thing as you find so wonderful? An'--why an' wherefore that blush?"

"Oh, Ann--Ann, dear!" Down went sock and needle and, falling on her knees, Hermione clasped her arms about Mrs. Trapes and hid her glowing face in her lap. "Ann, dear, I'm so happy!" she sighed--her speech a little m.u.f.fled by reason of the voluminous folds of Mrs. Trapes's snowy ap.r.o.n.

"Happy?" said Mrs. Trapes, setting down her teacup to fondle and stroke that shapely head, "sich happiness ain't all because of the rent bein'

re-dooced, by order, I reckon--is it?"

"Dear Ann," said Hermione, her face still hidden, "can't you guess?"

"No, my dear," answered Mrs. Trapes, her harsh tones wonderfully soft, "I don't have to--I guessed days ago. D' ye love him, Hermy?"

"Love him!" repeated Hermione, and said no more, nor did she lift her bowed head, but feeling the quick, strong pressure of those soft, embracing arms, the quiver of that girlish body, Mrs. Trapes smiled, and stooping, kissed Hermione's shining hair.

"When did he speak, my dear?"

"Last Monday, Ann."

"Did he say--much?"

"He asked me to--marry him."

"Spoke of marriage, eh? Did he happen t' mention th' word--wife?"

"Oh, many times, Ann."

"Good f'r him! An' when's it t' be?"

"Oh, Ann, dear, I--I'm afraid it's--to-night!"

"T'night? My land, he's sure some hasty!"

"And so--so masterful, Ann!"

"Well, y' sure need a master. But t'night--land sakes!"

"He wrote and told me he would fix things so he could marry me to-night, Ann!"

"Then he's sure out fixin' 'em right now. Lord, Hermy, why d' ye tremble, girl--y' sure love him, don't ye?"

"So much, Ann, so very much--and yet--"

"You ain't scared of him, are ye?"

"No--and yet, I--I think I am--a little."

"But you'll marry him, all the same?"

"Yes."

"An' t'night?"

"Yes. But Ann, dear, when he comes in I want you to keep him with you as long as you can--will you?"

"Why, sure I'll keep him, jest as long as--he'll let me! Lord, t' think as my little Hermy'll be a married woman this night!"

"And--oh, Ann, I haven't any--trousseau--"

"Shucks! You don't need none. You're best as you are. You won't need no fluffs an' frills, I reckon."

"But, Ann dear," said Hermione, lifting her head and shaking it ruefully, "I have--nothing! And my best dress--I made it in such a hurry, you remember--it needs pressing and--"

"He ain't marryin' you fer your clo'es, Hermy--no, sir! It's you he wants an'--oh, shucks! What do clo'es matter t' you, anyway? You was meant to be one o' them nymphs an' G.o.ddesses as went about clad--well, airy. You'd ha' done fine with them soft arms an' shoulders an'--"

"But I'm not a G.o.ddess, Ann, I'm only poor Hermy Chesterton--with a hole in one stocking and the lace on her petticoat torn, and her other things--well, look here!" and up whirled gown and petticoat, "see what a state they're in--look, Ann!"

"My dear, I am!" nodded Mrs. Trapes over her teacup, "an' what I say is, it don't matter a row o' pins if a stockin' 's got a bit of a hole in it if that stockin' 's on sich a leg as that! An' as fer--"

"But," sighed Hermione, "don't you understand--"

"My dear, I do! I was a married woman once, mind. An' I tell you 'beauty doth lie in the eye o' the beholder', my dear, an' the two eyes as is a-goin' t' behold you this night is goin' t' behold so much beauty as they won't behold nothin' else."

"But--he loves dainty things, I'm sure."

"Well, ain't he gettin' a dainty thing? Ain't he gettin' th' daintiest, sweetest, loveliest--" Here Mrs. Trapes set down her cup again to clasp Hermione in her arms.

"Do you think he'll--understand, Ann?"

"He'll be a fool if he doesn't!"

"And make allowances? He knows how poor we are and how busy I have to be."

"He does so, my dear. But, if it's goin' t' comfort you any, there's that corset cover you made me last Christmas. I ain't never wore it; I ain't dared to with all them trimmin's an' lace insertion, an' me s'

bony here an' there. You can have it an' willin', my dear, an' then there's them--"

"Ann, you dear thing, as if I would!"

"Why not? That corset cover's a dream! An' then there's them--"

"Dear, I couldn't--I wouldn't! No, I'll go to him just as I am--he shall marry me just like I am--"

"An' that's a G.o.ddess!" nodded Mrs. Trapes, "yes, a young G.o.ddess--only, with more clo'es on, o' course. I'm glad as he's quit peanuts; peanut men don't kind o' jibe in with G.o.ddesses."

"Ann," said Hermione, sitting back on her heels, "I think of him a great deal, of course, and--just lately--I've begun to wonder--"