Free Justice Is a Woman by Yelena Kopylova Page B

whistling into the house she had decided to adopt the adage regarding
    discretion being the better part of valour .
    But today she gave no thought to the girl or her coloured husband.
    Today she was feeling happy, even excited, for today Betty would be here; and oh, how she longed to
    see her and to have someone of her own class to talk to.
    It was strange, but until now she had never really thought of her sister as being of her own class, nor
    even of her generation; there was six years between them, and Betty’s war service had seemed to
    coarsen her and make her more voluble. Nevertheless, she was her sister and her
    volubility was spoken
    with a recognisable accent; and they both knew the same kind of people. Moreover, Betty was
    wonderful at nursing and so sympathetic. Oh, she was glad she was coming.
    Suddenly she put her hands on the dressing-table, bowed her head and laughed softly to herself as she
    thought. Good Lord! I’ll have her growing wings in a moment; I really must be bored.
    After all she’s
    still Betty, as she was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be “Are you ready?”
    She looked through the mirror towards the door where Joe was standing, and adjusting
    her hat she
    nodded at him, saying, “Yes, I’ve just got to put my coat on.”
    When she picked up her coat from the chair he helped her into it, then tucked the fur collar close under
    her chin, saying, “Keep warm, the wind’s enough to cut you in two.” Then, bending his face to hers, he
    kissed her slowly on the mouth, and as he traced his finger around her lips he said,
    “You’ve got the most
    beautiful mouth I’ve seen on a woman.”
    “Is that the only beautiful part of me ?” She looked at him coyly.
    “The only beautiful part?” He put his head to the side as if thinking.
    “No; but it’s the best bit of you, apart, perhaps, from that.” He gave her stomach a sharp tap, and she
    turned from him, saying, “Oh you!” and he laughed as he followed her out of the room, saying, “And
    you, and it or them.”
    As they crossed the landing he put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him and muttered
    under his breath, “Wouldn’t it be marvelous if it was them; two, or three of them?” And when, almost
    violently, she pushed him away he let out a deep throaty laugh that resounded through the house, right
    down to the kitchen and up to the top floor, where Mike, hearing it, nodded slowly to himself as he said
    aloud, “That’s good.”
    When they reached the station the train had already arrived and they espied Betty at the far end of the
    platform talking to someone, which caused Elaine to move her head impatiently even
    while she laughed
    gently, saying, “Trust Betty to pick up somebody on the journey.”
    Beatrice Burton had her back to them, and she turned a delighted and wide-lipped smile on them when
    they appeared at her side, saying, “Oh, hello, Joe. Hello, Elaine.” She bent forward
    impulsively and
    kissed Elaine; then she held out her hand to Joe, saying, “Nice to see you again, Joe. Oh, by the way’
    she turned to the person to whom she had been speaking “ This is Mrs. Ambers. “
    “How do you do, Mrs. Ambers?” Joe inclined his head towards the elderly woman who,
    from her
    appearance, looked as if she were on her way to a Victorian tea-party. The coat she wore was long, the
    skirt being gored, taking its lines from a narrow waistband, while the bodice was
    buttoned up to the
    neck, the same being covered by a fur stole that seemed to be made up entirely of tails.
    Her hat was of
    faded green velour and her perky face seemed lost under its enormous brim.
    Her reply to Joe’s acknowledgement could have been heard as far away as the ticket
    barrier, “Oh, how
    do you do, Mr. Remington. You’re the brother-in-law, aren’t you? Yes, yes. And’ she
    now turned
    and looked at Elaine ‘this’ll be the sister. Well, well, no resemblance, no resemblance whatever. Ha!
    ha! it goes like