‘I’ve come to say I can’t come today,’ said Chuff when Ruth, looking agreeably domestic in a small rose-coloured apron, opened the door.
They kissed.
‘Oh, Chuff, why not?’ said Ruth, disappointed.
‘Grandma’s ill. She’s got jaundice, the doctor says. She’s to go into hospital. There’ll be a bed for her tomorrow morning. I couldn’t get into the house when I arrived, there was no answer. I had to climb in through the bedroom window. Did I have a time getting in! It was wedged with a brush. She was in bed, more or less unconscious.’
‘You haven’t left her alone!’
‘No, of course not. I’ve got a neighbour to come in for an hour. The doctor’s getting a district nurse or something for the night, but I don’t know when she’ll come so I must go back to Hurst Road and stay there. Of course I could have telephoned you,’ admitted Chuff, ‘but I thought I’d just like a glimpse.’ He grinned. ‘Where’s your mother?’
‘Chapel.’
‘And G.B.?’
‘He’s out canvassing.’
‘Goodoh,’ said Chuff, taking her in his arms.
They kissed more warmly.
‘What are you wearing this for?’ asked Chuff, touching the apron with a caressing finger.
‘I’m cooking the Sunday dinner,’ said Ruth, smoothing it down. ‘I’m sorry about your grandmother. Chuff. It seems sad, doesn’t it to be ill all alone? Is she very bad? Did the doctor say?’
‘I rather think it’s all up with her.’
‘It’s very sad to die alone.’
Oh, I don’t know.’ said Chuff. ‘She might like it better that way. She has her own ideas, and they’re not the same as anybody else’s. She looked very small, shrunken somehow. And yellow, of course.’
Ruth, with the intuition of love, perceived that beneath his bluff manner he was a good deal distressed. She kissed him again, gently. At this Chuff hugged her very tightly. He was a strong young man with muscular arms, as Ruth had discovered before to her enjoyment.
‘Don’t break my ribs,’ she said teasingly.
‘I wish to God we could get married,’ said Chuff with emphasis. ‘I want us to be married now.’
‘It’s no good till you’re twenty-one and through your exams.’
‘Lots of people get married before they’re twenty-one.’
‘Your grandfather would never allow it, even if Mother would.’
Chuff groaned. ‘Why do we always have to do what older people say, instead of pleasing ourselves? Let’s go off and get married.’
‘We can’t till we’re twenty-one, not without their consent.’
‘We could go off to Gretna Bridge, or whatever it’s called, like you read about in the papers.’
‘Gretna Green. I shouldn’t like that,’ said Ruth. ‘I think it would be silly. Excessive.’ Chuff growled. ‘Besides, I shouldn’t like to do anything to upset Mother or hurt Mr Morcar. He’s a great man, Chuff.’
‘He has been.’
‘Oh, he still is!’ objected Ruth. ‘Everybody thinks so. Even the men at the mill.’
‘Man-made fabrics are going to catch up on him if he doesn’t look quick.’
‘He fought his way up alone to the very top of the industry. If you do half as well, Chuff—’ She paused, dropped her belligerent tone, and concluded softly: ‘I shall be very proud of you.’
This led to an even tighter embrace.
‘Of course if Mr Morcar would agree,’ began Ruth, weakening.
‘He won’t. He’s always going on about the foolishness of early marriages.’
‘Well, it’s not to be wondered at, when his own was such a failure.’
‘How they ever came together beats me. He never cared for Grandma, I’m sure. It’s Jonathan’s grandmother he cared for.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. You should see her photo on the stand in his bedroom. A real beauty, she was. Don’t, tell me they were only friends.’
Ruth seemed disconcerted.
‘Does Jonathan know?’ she asked.
‘Goodness, no. Jonathan’s a babe in arms when it comes to that sort of thing. Far too high-minded to have such a thought in his head.’
‘But you like Jonathan, don’t you?’ said Ruth anxiously.
‘Of course. Who doesn’t? But he’s a mug, you know, a sucker; he’ll get done in all round.’
‘You must prevent it.’
‘I shall try, but it won’t be any good. Meanwhile he’s having a good influence on me,’ said Chuff with his good-humoured grin.
‘Silly!’ said Ruth fondly. ‘It seems odd to think of old people like Mr Morcar being in love,’ she mused, ‘but I expect they were very different when they were young.’ The emotional temperature of the interview having sunk a trifle, she was able to free herself from Chuff’s arms. ‘We shall just have to wait till we’re twenty-one.’she said consolingly. ‘It isn’t long.’
They compared their birthday dates, as they had done before, with satisfaction at their nearness to each other.
‘You must go now, Chuff. I have to baste this loin of lamb.’
‘I’ll help you,’ offered Chuff.
‘Oh. no, you won’t. You’ll just buzz off pronto. Mother’ll be hopping mad if she comes and finds you here.’ ‘That’s all nonsense nowadays.’
‘I know, but you know what Mother is like. Besides, you must get back to your grandmother.’
‘Yes, that’s true, I must,’ said Chuff, his face clouding. ‘Goodbye, Ruthie. I’ll come along this evening if I can, but I’m afraid it’s doubtful.’
‘Goodbye, love,’ said Ruth.
They kissed and parted.