26
　　The pedlar’s van
　　Gussy looked shyly up at them, and then hid his face in Ma’s lap, as if very overcome. That hadbeen Mas idea, of course!
　　‘Now, now!’ said Ma, in Tauri-Hessian, tapping Gussy. ‘Sit up and answer the gentlemen, mylittle Anna-Maria!’ She turned to the soldiers.
　　‘You must pardon her,’ she said. ‘She is a silly little girl, and cannot say boo to a goose! Sit up,my pet, and show these kind gentlemen what you are making.
　　Gussy sat up, and held out a piece of embroidery¹ to the two soldiers, keeping his head down asif very shy indeed. Jack², looking in through the window, was amazed at Gussy’s acting³. And thatembroidery! How very very clever of Ma to give Gussy that to show to the soldiers! He had seenMa working on it herself, night after night!
　　‘She is my favourite grandchild,’ Ma prattled⁴ on. ‘The prettiest little thing and so good. Talk tothe kind gentlemen, Anna-Maria! Say how do you do.’
　　‘I cannot,’ said Gussy, and hid his face in Mas lap again.
　　‘Don’t bother her,’ said one soldier. ‘I have a little girl at home as shy as she is. It’s better tohave them that way than bold and cheeky. How pretty her hair is! You must be proud of her, oldwoman.’
　　‘She is such a good little needlewoman,’ said Ma, proudly, and patted Gussy’s head. ‘Sit up, mypet – the gentlemen won’t eat you!’
　　‘We’re going,’ said the first soldier. ‘Here, give her this to spend. She really does remind me ofmy little girl at home.’
　　He threw a coin to Ma and she caught it deftly⁵ and pocketed it at once. Jack heaved anenormous sigh of relief when he saw the two men walking away. He poked⁶ his head in at thewindow.
　　‘It’s all right. They’ve gone. Gussy, you were absolutely marvellous! Talk about an actor! Why,you’re a born actor! A shy little girl to the life.’

分享到：