94
CHRISTINA STEAD
They all slept badly on account of the police; and then there
were quiet noises in the house.
It
was Mrs. Anderson "creeping
about like a mouse," as she said; and there was a soft light
in
the
hall. George was on the divan in the living room.
Mrs. Anderson was sitting in her best dressing gown, her hair
in two tiny plaits, by the bedside of the young man. He was lying
on his back with his big dark eyes open and looking upwards. From
time to time, he turned his face to her, with an expression of trust
and intimacy.
Her hand was lying on the eiderdown pleating it and she said:
"You were right to come to me, darling. Here they are all
selfish - in America they have hard hearts. They laugh and enjoy
themselves. And it's no use talking to those here about your mother.
Least said soonest mended.
I
realize she could not look after you, a
widow. Leave it to me. I'll write to her. But hush! Not a word to
them. Here you might as well be in a robbers' den. He and she, he and
she; that's all. A bird fell in the courtyard, they took it in and fed It,
but it died. They threw it out with the rubbish, a living creature that
had died. They will do the same to me. They will throw you out
if
they know. Not a word, you hear!"
The young man, turning his thin face to her said very low:
"Aunt Mollie,
I
knew
I
could come to you. The trouble is
nowadays people simply don' t believe anything and don't want to
help. And then, about mother. ..."
"Sh! Walls have ears. They ask questions in this house. No
one is safe. You are safe with me.
I
am penniless.
I
haven't a bank
roll sewn
in
my drawers, as you might think;" here she laughed: "but
if
anything comes my way, if
I
can save or get from them - never
mind, I'll give it to you for her, my sister-in-law Polly.
I
know you,
you would never beg. You stay here, darling, and never mind what
is said. I'll give you some money - a little bit, no more than chicken
feed, for what have
I?
Selfish is the world, my poor boy. Stay with
me. I'm alone, you see. And there's room: it's as big as a palace."
She learned over and kissed him. He put both hands on her
ears and drew her head down:
"Dear Aunt!
I
was right to come to you."
She whispered: "Sleep now! Stay here and don't
go
out till
evening. There was a giant on the esplanade, a policeman, a giant,
