of a morning with the cups rattling on the tray and
then play with the cat she rubs up against you for
her own sake I wonder has she fleas shes as bad as
a woman always licking and lecking but I hate their
claws I wonder do they see anything that we cant staring
like that when she sits at the top of the stairs so
long and listening as I wait always what a robber
too that lovely fresh place I bought I think Ill get
a bit of fish tomorrow or today is it Friday yes I
will with some blancmange with black currant jam like
long ago not those 2 lb pots of mixed plum and apple
from the London and Newcastle Williams and Woods goes
twice as far only for the bones I hate those eels cod
yes Ill get a nice piece of cod Im always getting
enough for 3 forgetting anyway Im sick of that everlasting
butchers meat from Buckleys loin chops and leg beef
and rib steak and scrag of mutton and calfs pluck the
very name is enough or a picnic suppose we all gave
5/- each and or let him pay it and invite some other
woman for him who Mrs Fleming and drove out to the
furry glen or the strawberry beds wed have him examining
all the horses toenails first like he does with the
letters no not with Boylan there yes with some cold
veal and ham mixed sandwiches there are little houses
down at the bottom of the banks there on purpose but
its as hot as blazes he says not a bank holiday anyhow
I hate those ruck of Mary Ann coalboxes out for the
day Whit Monday is a cursed day too no wonder that
bee bit him better the seaside but Id never again
in this life get into a boat with him after him at
Bray telling the boatman he knew how to row if anyone
asked could he ride the steeplechase for the gold cup
hed say yes then it came on to get rough the old thing
crookeding about and the weight all down my side telling
me pull the right reins now pull the left and the
tide all swamping in floods in through the bottom and
his oar slipping out of the stirrup its a mercy we
werent all drowned he can swim of course me no theres
no danger whatsoever keep yourself calm in his flannel
trousers Id like to have tattered them down off him
before all the people and give him what that one calls
flagellate till he was black and blue do him all the
good in the world only for that longnosed chap I dont
know who he is with that other beauty Burke out of
the City Arms hotel was there spying around as usual
on the slip always where he wasnt wanted if there
was a row on youd vomit a better face there was no
love lost between us thats 1 consolation I wonder
what kind is that book he brought me Sweets of Sin
by a gentleman of fashion some other Mr de Kock I
suppose the people gave him that nickname going about
with his tube from one woman to another I couldnt
even change my new white shoes all ruined with the
saltwater and the hat I had with that feather all blowy
and tossed on me how annoying and provoking because
the smell of the sea excited me of course the sardines
and the bream in Catalan bay round the back of the