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single thing they ever had words about； taking snuff。 Everyone thought the world of her for her gentle ways。 It was Gerty who turned off the gas at the main every night and it was Gerty who tacked up on the wall of that place where she never forgot every fortnight the chlorate of lime Mr Tunney the grocer's christmas almanac the picture of halcyon days where a young gentleman in the costume they used to wear then with a threecornered hat was offering a bunch of flowers to his ladylove with oldtime chivalry through her lattice window。 You could see there was a story behind it。 The colours were done something lovely。 She was in a soft clinging white in a studied attitude and the gentleman was in chocolate and he looked a thorough aristocrat。 She often looked at them dreamily when there for a certain purpose and felt her own arms that were white and soft just like hers with the sleeves back and thought about those times because she had found out in Walker's pronouncing dictionary that belonged to grandpapa Giltrap about the halcyon days what they meant。
The twins were now playing in the most approved brotherly fashion； till at last Master Jacky who was really as bold as brass there was no getting behind that deliberately kicked the ball as hard as ever he could down towards the seaweedy rocks。 Needless to say poor Tommy was not slow to voice his dismay but luckily the gentleman in black who was sitting there by himself came gallantly to the rescue and intercepted the ball。 Our two champions claimed their plaything with lusty cries and to avoid trouble Cissy Caffrey called to the gentleman to throw it to her please。 The gentleman aimed the ball once or twice and then threw it up the strand towards Cissy Caffrey but it rolled down the slope and stopped right under Gerty's skirt near the little pool by the rock。 The twins clamoured again for it and Cissy told her to kick it away and let them fight for it so Gerty drew back her foot but she wished their stupid ball hadn't e rolling down to her and she gave a kick but she missed and Edy and Cissy laughed。
If you fail try again； Edy Boardman said。
Gerty smiled assent and bit her lip。 A delicate pink crept into her pretty cheek but she was determined to let them see so she just lifted her skirt a little but just enough and took good aim and gave the ball a jolly good kick and it went ever so far and the two twins after it down towards the shingle。 Pure jealousy of course it was nothing else to draw attention on account of the gentleman opposite looking。 She felt the warm flush； a danger signal always with Gerty MacDowell； surging and flaming into her cheeks。 Till then they had only exchanged glances of the most casual but now under the brim of her new hat she ventured a look at him and the face that met her gaze there in the twilight； wan and strangely drawn； seemed to her the saddest she had ever seen。
Through the open window of the church the fragrant incense was wafted and with it the fragrant names of her who was conceived without stain of original sin； spiritual vessel； pray for us； honourable vessel； pray for us； vessel of singular devotion； pray for us； mystical rose。 And careworn hearts were there and toilers for their daily bread and many who had erred and wandered； their eyes wet with contrition but for all that bright with hope for the reverend father Hughes had told them what the great saint Bernard said in his famous prayer of Mary； the most pious Virgin's intercessory power that it was not recorded in any age that those who implored her powerful protection were ever abandoned by her。
The twins were now playing again right merrily for the troubles of childhood are but as fleeting summer showers。 Cissy played with baby Boardman till he crowed with glee； clapping baby hands in air。 Peep she cried behind the hood of the pushcar and Edy asked where was Cissy gone and then Cissy popped up her head and cried ah！ and； my word； didn't the little chap enjoy that！ And then she told him to say papa。
Say papa； baby。 Say pa pa pa pa pa pa pa。
And baby did his level best to say it for he was very intelligent for eleven months everyone said and big for his age and the picture of health； a perfect little bunch of love； and he would certainly turn out to be something great； they said。
Hajajajahaja。
Cissy wiped his little mouth with the dribbling bib and wanted him to sit up properly； and say pa pa pa but when she undid the strap she cried out； holy saint Denis； that he was possing wet and to double the half blanket the other way under him。 Of course his infant majesty was most obstreperous at such toilet formalities and he let everyone know it：
Habaa baaaahabaaa baaaa。
And two great big lovely big tears coursing down his cheeks。 It was all no use soothering him with no； nono； baby； no and telling him about the geegee and where was the puffpuff but Ciss； always readywitted； gave him in his mouth the teat of the suckingbottle and the young heathen was quickly appeased。
Gerty wished to goodness they would take their squalling baby home out of that and not get on her nerves no hour to be out and the little brats of twins。 She gazed out towards the distant sea。 It was like the paintings that man used to do on the pavement with all the coloured chalks and such a pity too leaving them there to be all blotted out； the evening and the clouds ing out and the Bailey light on Howth and to hear the music like that and the perfume of those incense they burned in the church like a kind of waft。 And while she gazed her heart went pitapat。 Yes； it was her he was looking at and there was meaning in his look。 His eyes burned into her as though they would search her through and through； read her very soul。 Wonderful eyes they were； superbly expressive； but could you trust them？ People were so queer。 She could see at once by his dark eyes and his pale intellectual face that he was a foreigner； the image of the photo she had of Martin Harvey； the matinée idol； only for the moustache which she preferred because she wasn't stagestruck like Winny Rippingham that wanted they two to always dress the same on account of a play but she could not see whether he had an aquiline nose or a slightly retmussé from where he was sitting。 He was in deep mourning； she could see that； and the story of a haunting sorrow was written on his face。 She would have given worlds to know what it was。 He was looking up so intently； so still and he saw her kick the ball and perhaps he could see the bright steel buckles of her shoes if she swung them like that thoughtfully with the toes down。 She was glad that something told her to put on the transparent stockings thinking Reggy Wylie might be out but that was far away。 Here was that of which she had so often dreamed。 It was he who mattered and there was joy on her face because she wanted him because she felt instinctively that he was like no…one else。 The very heart of the girlwoman went out to him； her dreamhusband； because she knew on the instant it was him。 If he had suffered； more sinned against than sinning； or even； even； if he had been himself a sinner； a wicked man； she cared not。 Even if he was a protestant or methodist she could convert him easily if he tr