354 ANGEL PAVEMENT

said to you 1 would geef you. No, no, no, no. Dey are
nodirig, noding, noding at oil. Steel, dey are vairy, vairy
nice plomss." Apparently these plums were in the little
box she now handed to Lena. "Next, I ask your
fadair, Meestair Colspie—does he say ven he com' back
'ere?"

"He didn't say exactly," said Lena, "I don't think
he quite knows yet. But it ought to be some time next
week. Perhaps you know, do you?" And she looked at
Turgis.

"That's all I've heard, Miss Golspie," replied Turgis,
very conscious of the fact that the old woman was
staring at him. "We expect him back some time next
week."

"No, nor no, no. I should like to ask your fadair
about dees troble for my daughtair—dat ees oll-and
eenoff! Aw yes!—eenoff. My nephew's friend from de
Legation, he may do somet'ing. Eef not, I ask your
fadair next veek." She threw her cigarette into the fire-
place, and got up from her chair surprisingly quickly.
"Aw, my dee-air, dat ees a nice, a vairy nice dress
you'ave on now. Aw, yes, eet ees." She ran a be-ringed
claw over some of it. Then she looked at Turgis, who
immediately wished she wouldn't. "Eesn't eet a nice
dress, eh? You t'eenk so?"

The embarrassed Turgis said it was.

"She ees vairy preetty, Mees Colspie? Aw, yes—loffly,
you t'eenk, eh?"

"Yes, I think she is," replied Turgis, after clearing
his throat.

"You are in loff wit' her, eh?"

These foreigners! What a question to put to a chap?
What had it got to do with her, the nosey old hag? He