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　　AsterlinggooddaughterwasGertyjustlikeasecondmotherinthehouse，aministeringangeltoowithalittleheartworthitsweightingold。AndwhenhermotherhadthoseragingsplittingheadacheswhowasitrubbedonthementholconeonherforeheadbutGertythoughshedidn’tlikehermothertakingpinchesofsnuffandthatwastheonlysinglethingtheyeverhadwordsabout，takingsnuff。Everyonethoughttheworldofherforhergentleways。ItwasGertywhoturnedoffthegasatthemaineverynightanditwasGertywhotackeduponthewallofthatplacewheresheneverforgoteveryfortnightthechlorateoflimeMrTunneythegrocer’schristmasalmanacthepictureofhalcyondayswhereayounggentlemaninthecostumetheyusedtowearthenwithathreecorneredhatwasofferingabunchofflowerstohisladylovewitholdtimechivalrythroughherlatticewindow。Youcouldseetherewasastorybehindit。Thecoloursweredonesomethinglovely。Shewasinasoftclingingwhiteinastudiedattitudeandthegentlemanwasinchocolateandhelookedathorougharistocrat。

　　SheoftenlookedatthemdreamilywhenthereforacertainpurposeandfeltherownarmsthatwerewhiteandsoftjustlikeherswiththesleevesbackandthoughtaboutthosetimesbecauseshehadfoundoutinWalker’spronouncingdictionarythatbelongedtograndpapaGiltrapaboutthehalcyondayswhattheymeant。

　　Thetwinswerenowplayinginthemostapprovedbrotherlyfashion，tillatlastMasterJackywhowasreallyasboldasbrasstherewasnogettingbehindthatdeliberatelykickedtheballashardaseverhecoulddowntowardstheseaweedyrocks。NeedlesstosaypoorTommywasnotslowtovoicehisdismaybutluckilythegentlemaninblackwhowassittingtherebyhimselfcamegallantlytotherescueandinterceptedtheball。OurtwochampionsclaimedtheirplaythingwithlustycriesandtoavoidtroubleCissyCaffreycalledtothegentlemantothrowittoherplease。ThegentlemanaimedtheballonceortwiceandthenthrewitupthestrandtowardsCissyCaffreybutitrolleddowntheslopeandstoppedrightunderGerty’sskirtnearthelittlepoolbytherock。ThetwinsclamouredagainforitandCissytoldhertokickitawayandletthemfightforitsoGertydrewbackherfootbutshewishedtheirstupidballhadn’tcomerollingdowntoherandshegaveakickbutshemissedandEdyandCissylaughed。

　　Ifyoufailtryagain，EdyBoardmansaid。

　　Gertysmiledassentandbitherlip。Adelicatepinkcreptintoherprettycheekbutshewasdeterminedtoletthemseesoshejustliftedherskirtalittlebutjustenoughandtookgoodaimandgavetheballajollygoodkickanditwenteversofarandthetwotwinsafteritdowntowardstheshingle。Purejealousyofcourseitwasnothingelsetodrawattentiononaccountofthegentlemanoppositelooking。Shefeltthewarmflush，adangersignalalwayswithGertyMacDowell，surgingandflamingintohercheeks。Tillthentheyhadonlyexchangedglancesofthemostcasualbutnowunderthebrimofhernewhatsheventuredalookathimandthefacethatmethergazethereinthetwilight，wanandstrangelydrawn，seemedtoherthesaddestshehadeverseen。

　　Throughtheopenwindowofthechurchthefragrantincensewaswaftedandwithitthefragrantnamesofherwhowasconceivedwithoutstainoforiginalsin，spiritualvessel，prayforus，honourablevessel，prayforus，vesselofsingulardevotion，prayforus，mysticalrose。Andcarewornheartswerethereandtoilersfortheirdailybreadandmanywhohaderredandwandered，theireyeswetwithcontritionbutforallthatbrightwithhopeforthereverendfatherHugheshadtoldthemwhatthegreatsaintBernardsaidinhisfamousprayerofMary，themostpiousVirgin’sintercessorypowerthatitwasnotrecordedinanyagethatthosewhoimploredherpowerfulprotectionwereeverabandonedbyher。

　　Thetwinswerenowplayingagainrightmerrilyforthetroublesofchildhoodarebutasfleetingsummershowers。CissyplayedwithbabyBoardmantillhecrowedwithglee，clappingbabyhandsinair。PeepshecriedbehindthehoodofthepushcarandEdyaskedwherewasCissygoneandthenCissypoppedupherheadandcriedah！and，myword，didn’tthelittlechapenjoythat！Andthenshetoldhimtosaypapa。

　　Saypapa，baby。Saypapapapapapapa。

　　Andbabydidhislevelbesttosayitforhewasveryintelligentforelevenmonthseveryonesaidandbigforhisageandthepictureofhealth，aperfectlittlebunchoflove，andhewouldcertainlyturnouttobesomethinggreat，theysaid。

　　Hajajajahaja。

　　Cissywipedhislittlemouthwiththedribblingbibandwantedhimtositupproperly，andsaypapapabutwhensheundidthestrapshecriedout，holysaintDenis，thathewaspossingwetandtodoublethehalfblankettheotherwayunderhim。Ofcoursehisinfantmajestywasmostobstreperousatsuchtoiletformalitiesandheleteveryoneknowit：

　　Habaabaaaahabaaabaaaa。

　　Andtwogreatbiglovelybigtearscoursingdownhischeeks。Itwasallnousesootheringhimwithno，nono，baby，noandtellinghimaboutthegeegeeandwherewasthepuffpuffbutCiss，alwaysreadywitted，gavehiminhismouththeteatofthesuckingbottleandtheyoungheathenwasquicklyappeased。

　　Gertywishedtogoodnesstheywouldtaketheirsquallingbabyhomeoutofthatandnotgetonhernervesnohourtobeoutandthelittlebratsoftwins。Shegazedouttowardsthedistantsea。Itwaslikethepaintingsthatmanusedtodoonthepavementwithallthecolouredchalksandsuchapitytooleavingthemtheretobeallblottedout，theeveningandthecloudscomingoutandtheBaileylightonHowthandtohearthemusiclikethatandtheperfumeofthoseincensetheyburnedinthechurchlikeakindofwaft。Andwhileshegazedherheartwentpitapat。Yes，itwasherhewaslookingatandtherewasmeaninginhislook。Hiseyesburnedintoherasthoughtheywouldsearchherthroughandthrough，readherverysoul。Wonderfuleyestheywere，superblyexpressive，butcouldyoutrustthem？Peopleweresoqueer。Shecouldseeatoncebyhisdarkeyesandhispaleintellectualfacethathewasaforeigner，theimageofthephotoshehadofMartinHarvey，thematin&eacute；eidol，onlyforthemoustachewhichshepreferredbecauseshewasn’tstagestrucklikeWinnyRippinghamthatwantedtheytwotoalwaysdressthesameonaccountofaplaybutshecouldnotseewhetherhehadanaquilinenoseoraslightlyretmuss&eacute；fromwherehewassitting。Hewasindeepmourning，shecouldseethat，andthestoryofahauntingsorrowwaswrittenonhisface。Shewouldhavegivenworldstoknowwhatitwas。Hewaslookingupsointently，sostillandhesawherkicktheballandperhapshecouldseethebrightsteelbucklesofhershoesifsheswungthemlikethatthoughtfullywiththetoesdown。ShewasgladthatsomethingtoldhertoputonthetransparentstockingsthinkingReggyWyliemightbeoutbutthatwasfaraway。Herewasthatofwhichshehadsooftendreamed。Itwashewhomatteredandtherewasjoyonherfacebecauseshewantedhimbecauseshefeltinstinctivelythathewaslikeno-oneelse。Theveryheartofthegirlwomanwentouttohim，herdreamhusband，becausesheknewontheinstantitwashim。Ifhehadsuffered，moresinnedagainstthansinning，oreven，even，ifhehadbeenhimselfasinner，awickedman，shecarednot。Evenifhewasaprotestantormethodistshecouldconverthimeasilyifhetrulylovedher。Therewerewoundsthatwantedhealingwithheartbalm。Shewasawomanlywomannotlikeotherflightygirls，unfeminine，hehadknown，thosecyclistsshowingoffwhattheyhadn’tgotandshejustyearnedtoknowall，toforgiveallifshecouldmakehimfallinlovewithher，makehimforgetthememoryofthepast。Thenmayhaphewouldembracehergently，likearealman，crushinghersoftbodytohim，andloveher，hisownestgirlie，forherselfalone。

　　Refugeofsinners。Comfortressoftheafflicted。Orapronobis。

　　Wellhasitbeensaidthatwhosoeverpraystoherwithfaithandconstancycanneverbelostorcastaway：andfitlyisshetooahavenofrefugefortheafflictedbecauseofthesevendolourswhichtranspiercedherownheart。Gertycouldpicturethewholesceneinthechurch，thestainedglasswindowslightedup，thecandles，theflowersandthebluebannersoftheblessedVirgin’ssodalityandFatherConroywashelpingCanonO’Hanlonatthealtar，carryingthingsinandoutwithhiseyescastdown。Helookedalmostasaintandhisconfession-boxwassoquietandcleananddarkandhishandswerejustlikewhitewaxandifevershebecameaDominicannunintheirwhitehabitperhapshemightcometotheconventforthenovenaofSaintDominic。Hetoldherthattimewhenshetoldhimaboutthatinconfessioncrimsoninguptotherootsofherhairforfearhecouldsee，nottobetroubledbecausethatwasonlythevoiceofnatureandwewereallsubjecttonatureslaws，hesaid，inthislifeandthatthatwasnosinbecausethatcamefromthenatureofwomaninstitutedbyGod，hesaid，andthatOurBlessedLadyherselfsaidtothearchangelGabrielbeitdoneuntomeaccordingtoThyWord。Hewassokindandholyandoftenandoftenshethoughtandthoughtcouldsheworkaruchedteacosywithembroideredfloraldesignforhimasapresentoraclockbuttheyhadaclockshenoticedonthemantelpiecewhiteandgoldwithacanarybirdthatcameoutofalittlehousetotellthetimethedayshewentthereabouttheflowersforthefortyhours’adorationbecauseitwashardtoknowwhatsortofapresenttogiveorperhapsanalbumofilluminatedviewsofDublinorsomeplace。

　　TheexasperatinglittlebratsoftwinsbegantoquarrelagainandJackythrewtheballouttowardstheseaandtheybothranafterit。Littlemonkeyscommonasditchwater。Someoneoughttotakethemandgivethemagoodhidingforthemselvestokeepthemintheirplaces，thebothofthem。AndCissyandEdyshoutedafterthemtocomebackbecausetheywereafraidthetidemightcomeinonthemandbedrowned。

　　Jacky！Tommy！

　　Notthey！Whatagreatnotiontheyhad！SoCissysaiditwastheverylasttimeshe’deverbringthemout。Shejumpedupandcalledthemandsherandowntheslopepasthim，tossingherhairbehindherwhichhadagoodenoughcolouriftherehadbeenmoreofitbutwithallthethingamerryshewasalwaysrubbingintoitshecouldn’tgetittogrowlongbecauseitwasn’tnaturalsoshecouldjustgoandthrowherhatatit。Sheranwithlongganderystridesitwasawondershedidn’tripupherskirtatthesidethatwastootightonherbecausetherewasalotofthetomboyaboutCissyCaffreyandshewasaforwardpiecewhenevershethoughtshehadagoodopportunitytoshowoffandjustbecauseshewasagoodrunnersheranlikethatsothathecouldseealltheendofherpetticoatrunningandherskinnyshanksupasfaraspossible。ItwouldhaveservedherjustrightifshehadtrippedupoversomethingaccidentallyonpurposewithherhighcrookedFrenchheelsonhertomakeherlooktallandgotafinetumble。Tableau！Thatwouldhavebeenaverycharmingexpos&eacute；

　　foragentlemanlikethattowitness。

　　Queenofangels，queenofpatriarchs，queenofprophets，ofallsaints，theyprayed，queenofthemostholyrosaryandthenFatherConroyhandedthethuribletoCanonO’HanlonandheputintheincenseandcensedtheBlessedSacramentandCissyCaffreycaughtthetwotwinsandshewasitchingtogivethemaringinggoodclipontheearbutshedidn’tbecauseshethoughthemightbewatchingbutshenevermadeabiggermistakeinallherlifebecauseGertycouldseewithoutlookingthathenevertookhiseyesoffofherandthenCanonO’HanlonhandedthethuriblebacktoFatherConroyandkneltdownlookingupattheBlessedSacramentandthechoirbegantosingTantumegoandshejustswungherfootinandoutintimeasthemusicroseandfelltotheTantumergosacramentum。

　　ThreeandelevenshepaidforthosestockingsinSparrow’sofGeorge’sstreetontheTuesday，notheMondaybeforeEasterandtherewasn’tabrackonthemandthatwaswhathewaslookingat，transparent，andnotatherinsignificantonesthathadneithershapenorformthecheekofher！

　　becausehehadeyesinhisheadtoseethedifferenceforhimself。

　　Cissycameupalongthestrandwiththetwotwinsandtheirballwithherhatanyhowonhertoonesideafterherrunandshedidlookastreeltuggingthetwokidsalongwiththeflimsyblousesheboughtonlyafortnightbeforelikearagonherbackandbitofherpetticoathanginglikeacaricature。

　　Gertyjusttookoffherhatforamomenttosettleherhairandaprettier，adaintierheadofnutbrowntresseswasneverseenonagirl’sshoulders，aradiantlittlevision，insooth，almostmaddeninginitssweetness。Youwouldhavetotravelmanyalongmilebeforeyoufoundaheadofhairthelikeofthat。Shecouldalmostseetheswiftansweringflushofadmirationinhiseyesthatsethertinglingineverynerve。Sheputonherhatsothatshecouldseefromunderneaththebrimandswungherbuckledshoefasterforherbreathcaughtasshecaughttheexpressioninhiseyes。

　　Hewaseyeingherasasnakeeyesitsprey。Herwoman’sinstincttoldherthatshehadraisedthedevilinhimandatthethoughtaburningscarletsweptfromthroattobrowtillthelovelycolourofherfacebecameagloriousrose。

　　EdyBoardmanwasnoticingittoobecauseshewassquintingatGerty，halfsmiling，withherspecs，likeanoldmaid，pretendingtonursethebaby。Irritablelittlegnatshewasandalwayswouldbeandthatwaswhyno-onecouldgetonwithher，pokinghernoseintowhatwasnoconcernofhers。AndshesaidtoGerty：