DOI Artikel:
D'Arcy, Ella: Irremediable
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20196#0096
90 Irremediable
gold the ends and fringes of her rough abundant hair. Thus and
at this moment she made an agreeable picture, to which stood as
background all the beautiful wooded Southshire view.
" You don't really mean to say you are a tailoress i" said
Willoughby with a sort of eager compassion.
" I do, though ! An' I've bin one ever since I was fourteen.
Look at my fingers if you don't b'lieve me."
She put out her right hand, and he took hold of it, as he was
expected to do. The finger-ends were frayed and blackened by
needle-pricks, but the hand itself was plump, moist, and not un-
shapely. She meanwhile examined Willoughby's fingers enclosing
hers.
"It's easy ter see you've never done no work ! " she Said, half
admiring, half envious. " I s'pose you're a tip-top swell, ain't
you?"
" Oh, yes ! I'm a tremendous swell indeed ! " said Willoughby
ironically. He thought of his hundred and thirty pounds' salary;
and he mentioned his position in the British and Colonial Banking
house, without shedding much Illumination on her mind ; for she
insisted:
" Well, anyhow, you're a gentleman. I've often wished I was
a lady. It must be so nice ter wear fine clo'es an' never have ter
do any work all day long."
Willoughby thought it innocent of the girl to say this ; it re-
minded him of his own notion as a child—that kings and queens
put on their crowns the first thing on rising in the morning. His
cordiality rose another degree.
" If being a gentleman means having nothing to do," said he,
smiling, " I can certainly lay no claim to the title. Life isn't all
beer and skittles with me, any more than it is with you. Which
is the better reason for enjoying the present moment, don't you
think ?
gold the ends and fringes of her rough abundant hair. Thus and
at this moment she made an agreeable picture, to which stood as
background all the beautiful wooded Southshire view.
" You don't really mean to say you are a tailoress i" said
Willoughby with a sort of eager compassion.
" I do, though ! An' I've bin one ever since I was fourteen.
Look at my fingers if you don't b'lieve me."
She put out her right hand, and he took hold of it, as he was
expected to do. The finger-ends were frayed and blackened by
needle-pricks, but the hand itself was plump, moist, and not un-
shapely. She meanwhile examined Willoughby's fingers enclosing
hers.
"It's easy ter see you've never done no work ! " she Said, half
admiring, half envious. " I s'pose you're a tip-top swell, ain't
you?"
" Oh, yes ! I'm a tremendous swell indeed ! " said Willoughby
ironically. He thought of his hundred and thirty pounds' salary;
and he mentioned his position in the British and Colonial Banking
house, without shedding much Illumination on her mind ; for she
insisted:
" Well, anyhow, you're a gentleman. I've often wished I was
a lady. It must be so nice ter wear fine clo'es an' never have ter
do any work all day long."
Willoughby thought it innocent of the girl to say this ; it re-
minded him of his own notion as a child—that kings and queens
put on their crowns the first thing on rising in the morning. His
cordiality rose another degree.
" If being a gentleman means having nothing to do," said he,
smiling, " I can certainly lay no claim to the title. Life isn't all
beer and skittles with me, any more than it is with you. Which
is the better reason for enjoying the present moment, don't you
think ?