OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER 7
in which a nondescript green plant languished. The chauffeur was
about to ring when Sylvie said:
" No. Bring the parcels.'
Peeping through the keyhole, she rattled the letter-box. A woman
in her forties opened the door and, drying her hands on her blue
apron, stared at the visitor.
" Don't you recognize me, Ma? "
Sylvie kissed her. Her mother submitted to the kiss, showing
no more emotion than a mild astonishment; then gazed at the
parcels in the chauffeur's arms.
"What's all them things?"
" Oh, some little presents.... Hand them over, Jacques. You
can go and have your lunch now. Come back in an hour's time."
The kitchen door at the far end of the hall stood open, and a
young man could be seen with his feet in the oven, a book propped
on his knees.
" That's Monsieur Moise," the woman said as she and Sylvie
entered the kitchen. Then, with what seemed a slight reluctance,
she explained to the young man: " This is my daughter, who's just
back from Egypt. ... It was Egypt, wasn't it, where you were
last? "
But Moise had already edged his way past them and was hurrying
upstairs.
" So you still have lodgers? " Sylvie remarked.
" How do you think we'd make both ends meet without 'em? "
A big saucepan was simmering on the range beside the coffeepot,
which was always kept full to the brim. Sylvie had dropped her
coat across a chair and her mother was surreptitiously pawing the
fur.
" Why did you tell the driver to come back? "
" Because I'll have to be off again presently."
" Oh, will you? "
As she always did wheh somebody dropped in, Madame Baron
was pouring out a cup of coffee. She was in her working clothes;
a shabby black dress, big blue apron. Sylvie unwrapped the slippers
and handed them to her mother.
" Like them?"
Her mother sniffed and shook her head.
" What should I want with things like that? I'd look a proper guy
in 'em."
" Where's Antoinette? "