Chapter 14

‘Paint the wench out, I say, or paint a bodice in. It draws the eye like that. It’s bad for the lads. For till they get married and find out what a poor ornary thing an ’oman is, the lads think she’s summat grand and curious.’ Suddenly, in the midst of the dream of wild duck and pelargoniums, Gillian’s face swam up on the green sky with the pale, lissom body of the mermaid on the sign. Robert got up, threw the pegs on the floor, and walked up and down the little room. Two strides and a half. Turn. Two strides and a…