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。