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glanced up and broke out into a joyous little laugh which had in it all the freshness of a young May morning。 She knew right well； no…one better； what made squinty Edy say that because of him cooling in his attentions when it was simply a lovers' quarrel。 As per usual somebody's nose was out of joint about the boy that had the bicycle always riding up and down in front of her window。 Only now his father kept him in the evenings studying hard to get an exhibition in the intermediate that was on and he was going to Trinity college to study for a doctor when he left the high school like his brother W。 E。 Wylie who was racing in the bicycle races in Trinity college university。 Little recked he perhaps for what she felt； that dull aching void in her heart sometimes； piercing to the core。 Yet he was young and perchance he might learn to love her in time。 They were protestants in his family and of course Gerty knew Who came first and after Him the blessed Virgin and then Saint Joseph。 But he was undeniably handsome with an exquisite nose and he was what he looked； every inch a gentleman； the shape of his head too at the back without his cap on that she would know anywhere something off the mon and the way he turned the bicycle at the lamp with his hands off the bars and also the nice perfume of those good cigarettes and besides they were both of a size and that was why Edy Boardman thought she was so frightfully clever because he didn't go and ride up and down in front of her bit of a garden。
Gerty was dressed simply but with the instinctive taste of a votary of Dame Fashion for she felt that there was just a might that he might be out。 A neat blouse of electric blue； selftinted by dolly dyes （because it was expected in the Lady's Pictorial that electric blue would be worn）； with a smart vee opening down to the division and kerchief pocket （in which she always kept a piece of cottonwool scented with her favourite perfume because the handkerchief spoiled the sit） and a navy threequarter skirt cut to the stride showed off her slim graceful figure to perfection。 She wore a coquettish little love of a hat of wideleaved nigger straw contrast trimmed with an underbrim of eggblue chenille and at the side a butterfly bow to tone。 All Tuesday week afternoon she was hunting to match that chenille but at last she found what she wanted at Clery's summer sales； the very it； slightly shopsoiled but you would never notice； seven fingers two and a penny。 She did it up all by herself and what joy was hers when she tried it on then； smiling at the lovely reflection which the mirror gave back to her！ And when she put it on the waterjug to keep the shape she knew that that would take the shine out of some people she knew。 Her shoes were the newest thing in footwear （Edy Boardman prided herself that she was very petite but she never had a foot like Gerty MacDowell； a five； and never would ash； oak or elm） with patent toecaps and just one smart buckle at her higharched instep。 Her wellturned ankle displayed its perfect proportions beneath her skirt and just the proper amount and no more of her shapely limbs encased in finespun hose with high spliced heels and wide garter tops。 As for undies they were Gerty's chief care and who that knows the fluttering hopes and fears of sweet seventeen （though Gerty would never see seventeen again） can find it in his heart to blame her？ She had four dinky sets； with awfully pretty stitchery； three garments and nighties extra； and each set slotted with different coloured ribbons； rosepink； pale blue； mauve and peagreen and she aired them herself and blued them when they came home from the wash and ironed them and she had a brickbat to keep the iron on because she wouldn't trust those washerwomen as far as she'd see them scorching the things。 She was wearing the blue for luck； hoping against hope； her own colour and the lucky colour too for a bride to have a bit of blue somewhere on her because the green she wore that day week brought grief because his father brought him in to study for the intermediate exhibition and because she thought perhaps he might be out because when she was dressing that morning she nearly slipped up the old pair on her inside out and that was for luck and lovers' meetings if you put those things on inside out so long as it wasn't of a Friday。
And yet and yet！ That strained look on her face！ A gnawing sorrow is there all the time。 Her very soul is in her eyes and she would give worlds to be in the privacy of her own familiar chamber where； giving way to tears； she could have a good cry and relieve her pentup feelings。 Though not too much because she knew how to cry nicely before the mirror。 You are lovely； Gerty； it said。 The paly light of evening falls upon a face infinitely sad and wistful。 Gerty MacDowell yearns in vain。 Yes； she had known from the first that her daydream of a marriage has been arranged and the weddingbells ringing for Mrs Reggy Wylie T。 C。 D。 （because the one who married the elder brother would be Mrs Wylie） and in the fashionable intelligence Mrs Gertrude Wylie was wearing a sumptuous confection of grey trimmed with expensive blue fox was not to be。 He was too young to understand。 He would not believe in love； a woman's birthright。 The night of the party long ago in Stoers' （he was still in short trousers） when they were alone and he stole an arm round her waist she went white to the very lips。 He called her little one in a strangely husky voice and snatched a half kiss （the first！） but it was only the end of her nose and then he hastened from the room with a remark about refreshments。 Impetuous fellow！ Strength of character had never been Reggy Wylie's strong point and he who would woo and win Gerty MacDowell must be a man among men。 But waiting； always waiting to be asked and it was leap year too and would soon be over。 No prince charming is her beau ideal to lay a rare and wondrous love at her feet but rather a manly man with a strong quiet face who had not found his ideal； perhaps his hair slightly flecked with grey； and who would understand； take her in his sheltering arms； strain her to him in all the strength of his deep passionate nature and fort her with a long long kiss。 It would be like heaven。 For such a one she yearns this balmy summer eve。 With all the heart of her she longs to be his only； his affianced bride for riches for poor； in sickness in health； till death us two part； from this to this day forward。
And while Edy Boardman was with little Tommy behind the pushcar she was just thinking would the day ever e when she could call herself his little wife to be。 Then they could talk about her till they went blue in the face； Bertha Supple too； and Edy； the spitfire； because she would be twenty…two in November。 She would care for him with creature forts too for Gerty was womanly wise and knew that a mere man liked that feeling of hominess。 Her griddlecakes done to a golden…brown hue and queen Ann's pudding of delightful creaminess had won golden opinions from all because she had a lucky hand also for lighting a fire； dredge in the fine selfraising flour and always stir in the same direction then cream the milk and sugar and whisk well the white of eggs though sh