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So over she went and when he saw her ing she could see him take his hand out of his pocket； getting nervous； and beginning to play with his watchchain； looking at the church。 Passionate nature though he was Gerty could see that he had enormous control over himself。 One moment he had been there； fascinated by a loveliness that made him gaze； and the next moment it was the quiet gravefaced gentleman； selfcontrol expressed in every line of his distinguishedlooking figure。
Cissy said to excuse her would he mind telling her what was the right time and Gerty could see him taking out his watch； listening to it and looking up and clearing his throat and he said he was very sorry his watch was stopped but he thought it must be after eight because the sun was set。 His voice had a cultured ring in it and though he spoke in measured accents there was a suspicion of a quiver in the mellow tones。 Cissy said thanks and came back with her tongue out and said uncle said his waterworks were out of order。
Then they sang the second verse of the Tantum ergo and Canon O'Hanlon got up again and censed the Blessed Sacrament and knelt down and he told Father Conroy that one of the candles was just going to set fire to the flowers and Father Conroy got up and settled it all right and she could see the gentleman winding his watch and listening to the works and she swung her leg more in and out in time。 It was getting darker but he could see and he was looking all the time that he was winding the watch or whatever he was doing to it and then he put it back and put his hands back into his pockets。 She felt a Kind of a sensation rushing all over her and she knew by the feel of her scalp and that irritation against her stays that that thing must be ing on because the last time too was when she clipped her hair on account of the moon。 His dark eyes fixed themselves on her again drinking in her every contour； literally worshipping at her shrine。 If ever there was undisguised admiration in a man's passionate gaze it was there plain to be seen on that man's face。 It is for you； Gertrude MacDowell； and you know it。
Edy began to get ready to go and it was high time for her and Gerty noticed that that little hint she gave had the desired effect because it was a long way along the strand to where there was the place to push up the pushcar and Cissy took off the twins' caps and tidied their hair to make herself attractive of course and Canon O'Hanlon stood up with his cope poking up at his neck and Father Conroy handed him the card to read off and he read out Panem de clo prstitisti eis and Edy and Cissy were talking about the time all the time and asking her but Gerty could pay them back in their own coin and she just answered with scathing politeness when Edy asked her was she heartbroken about her best boy throwing her over。 Gerty winced sharply。 A brief cold blaze shone from her eyes that spoke volumes of scorn immeasurable。 It hurt。 O yes； it cut deep because Edy had her own quiet way of saying things like that she knew would wound like the confounded little cat she was。 Gerty's lips parted swiftly to frame the word but she fought back the sob that rose to her throat； so slim； so flawless； so beautifully moulded it seemed one an artist might have dreamed of。 She had loved him better than he knew。 Lighthearted deceiver and fickle like all his sex he would never understand what he had meant to her and for an instant there was in the blue eyes a quick stinging of tears。 Their eyes were probing her mercilessly but with a brave effort she sparkled back in sympathy as she glanced at her new conquest for them to see。
O； responded Gerty； quick as lightning； laughing； and the proud head flashed up； I can throw my cap at who I like because it's leap year。
Her words rang out crystalclear； more musical than the cooing of the ringdove； but they cut the silence icily。 There was that in her young voice that told that she was not a one to be lightly trifled with。 As for Mr Reggy with his swank and his bit of money she could just chuck him aside as if he was so much filth and never again would she cast as much as a second thought on him and tear his silly postcard into a dozen pieces。 And it ever after he dared to presume she could give him one look of measured scorn that would make him shrivel up on the spot。 Miss puny little Edy's countenance fell to no slight extent and Gerty could see by her looking as black as thunder that she was simply in a towering rage though she hid it； the little kinnatt； because that shaft had struck home for her petty jealousy and they both knew that she was something aloof； apart in another sphere； that she was not of them and there was somebody else too that knew it and saw it so they could put that in their pipe and smoke it。
Edy straightened up baby Boardman to get ready to go and Cissy tucked in the ball and the spades and buckets and it was high time too because the sandman was on his way for Master Boardman junior and Cissy told him too that Billy Winks was ing and that baby was to go deedaw and baby looked just too ducky； laughing up out of his gleeful eyes； and Cissy poked him like that out of fun in his wee fat tummy and baby； without as much as by your leave； sent up his pliments on to his brandnew dribbling bib。
O my！ Puddeny pie！ protested Ciss。 He has his bib destroyed。
The slight contretemps claimed her attention but in two twos she set that little matter to rights。
Gerty stifled a smothered exclamation and gave a nervous cough and Edy asked what and she was just going to tell her to catch it while it was flying but she was ever ladylike in her deportment so she simply passed it off with consummate tact by saying that that was the benediction because just then the bell rang out from the steeple over the quiet seashore because Canon O'Hanlon was up on the altar with the veil that Father Conroy put round him round his shoulders giving the benediction with the blessed Sacrament in his hands。
How moving the scene there in the gathering twilight； the last glimpse of Erin； the touching chime of those evening bells and at the same time a bat flew forth from the ivied belfry through the dusk； hither； thither； with a tiny lost cry。 And she could see far away the lights of the lighthouses so picturesque she would have loved to do with a box of paints because it was easier than to make a man and soon the lamplighter would be going his rounds past the presbyterian church grounds and along by shady Tritonville avenue where the couples walked and lighting the lamp near her window where Reggy Wylie used to turn his freewheel like she read in that book The Lamplighter by Miss Cummins； author of Mabel Vaughan and other tales。 For Gerty had her dreams that no…one knew of。 She loved to read poetry and when she got a keepsake from Bertha Supple of that lovely confession album with the coralpink cover to write her thoughts in she laid it in the drawer of her toilettable which； though it did not err on the side of luxury； was scrupulously neat and clean。 It was there she kept her girlish treasures trove； the tortoiseshell bs； her child of Mary badge； the whiterose scent； the eyebrowleine； her alabaster pouncetbox and the ribbons to change