DOI article:
D'Arcy, Ella: Poor cousin Louis
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21215#0050
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Poor Cousin Louis
red-haired girl, who, bursting into a laugh, impudently stuck her
tongue out at them before skipping away.
The old man had cowered down in his chair with his hands
over his eyes; now he looked up. " I thought it was the old
Judy," he said, " the old Judy she is always telling me about.
But it's only Margot."
" And who is Margot, cousin ? " inquired Louisa, still shaken
from the surprise.
" She helps in the kitchen. But I don't like her. She pulls
faces at me, and jumps out upon me from behind doors. And
when the wind blows and the Windows rattle she teils me about
the old Judy from Jethou, who is sailing over the sea on a broom-
stick, to come and beat me to death. Do you know, my dear,"
he said piteously, " you'll think I'm very silly, but Fm afraid up
here by myself all alone ? Do not leave me, Louisa; stay with
me, or take me back to town with you. Pedvinn would let me
have a room in your house, I'm sure ? And you wouldn't find me
much trouble, and of course I would bring my own bed linen, you
know."
" You had best take your tea first, sir," said Mrs. Tourtel
from outside the window ; she held scissors in her hand, and
was busy trimming the roses. She ofFered no excuse for eaves-
dropping.
The meal was set out, Island fashion, with abundant cakes
and sweets. Louisa saw in the silver tea-set another proof, if
need be, of her cousin's unfounded suspicions. Mrs. Tourtel
stood in the background, waiting. Renouf desired her to pack
his things ; he was going into town. " To be sure, sir," she said
civilly, and remained where she stood. He brought a clenched
hand down upon the table, so that the china rattled. " Are you
master here, or am I ?" he cried ; "I am going down to my cousin
Pedvinn's
Poor Cousin Louis
red-haired girl, who, bursting into a laugh, impudently stuck her
tongue out at them before skipping away.
The old man had cowered down in his chair with his hands
over his eyes; now he looked up. " I thought it was the old
Judy," he said, " the old Judy she is always telling me about.
But it's only Margot."
" And who is Margot, cousin ? " inquired Louisa, still shaken
from the surprise.
" She helps in the kitchen. But I don't like her. She pulls
faces at me, and jumps out upon me from behind doors. And
when the wind blows and the Windows rattle she teils me about
the old Judy from Jethou, who is sailing over the sea on a broom-
stick, to come and beat me to death. Do you know, my dear,"
he said piteously, " you'll think I'm very silly, but Fm afraid up
here by myself all alone ? Do not leave me, Louisa; stay with
me, or take me back to town with you. Pedvinn would let me
have a room in your house, I'm sure ? And you wouldn't find me
much trouble, and of course I would bring my own bed linen, you
know."
" You had best take your tea first, sir," said Mrs. Tourtel
from outside the window ; she held scissors in her hand, and
was busy trimming the roses. She ofFered no excuse for eaves-
dropping.
The meal was set out, Island fashion, with abundant cakes
and sweets. Louisa saw in the silver tea-set another proof, if
need be, of her cousin's unfounded suspicions. Mrs. Tourtel
stood in the background, waiting. Renouf desired her to pack
his things ; he was going into town. " To be sure, sir," she said
civilly, and remained where she stood. He brought a clenched
hand down upon the table, so that the china rattled. " Are you
master here, or am I ?" he cried ; "I am going down to my cousin
Pedvinn's