The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy [71]
Back at the house.
"Mr. Dangerfield, would you like me to make you some coffee. I bought some today."
"Miss Frost, do you know, you would make someone a very fine wife."
"O Mr. Dangerfield."
"You would."
"O,ha,ha. O."
Miss Frost into the kitchen. Sebastian in the supine chair, bringing it up a few notches. Poured himself a drink. Cruelty's not the word, Marion. I made every effort I could to start our little family. Things weren't ideal, but I was willing to make the best of them. I want to get out and enjoy things too. I'm human. But Miss Frost has been very good to me. The way she moves around that stove. The flex of her rump isn't bad and a good strong developed leg coming out of her brown boot. A heavy hand but that's all right Heavy hands are sadness. Miss Frost has a rather good physique. Kind and youthful. See all the turns, cups and pits, fingers. Yum yum yummy. O aye, grip, fasten and feel. Go ahead. Good for you. I need help and a polite period of rest, of sleep, of peace, to eke out these few more weeks till I'm absolutely rotten rich.
"Miss Frost, let me pour you a little drink"
"Miss Frost, let "Just a little."
"Do you know, Miss Frost, it's a great comfort to have you here."
The blood was gorging her head. Miss Frost turned away.
"I really mean that, Miss Frost."
"I really mean that, Miss "I like being here."
"I must apologize for subjecting you to all this upset."
"I don't mind."
"I'd hate you to be unhappy here."
"I'm quite happy. I really am, Mr. Dangerfield. I think this is the nicest house I've been in yet. It's so free and easy."
"It's that, Miss Frost—it's certainly that."
"I like things to be free and easy."
"I agree, a good way. Free and easy. Easy and free—it's the way things ought to be, and I like things that way, Miss Frost. None of these binding things."
"Yes, I think so too."
Miss Frost brought out the pot of coffee with a plate of biscuits. They smiled across the table,
"Things crop up all the time, don't they, Miss Frost? Unpleasant things. But we'll see better days. Every cloud, you know, lined with lead. I like you, Miss Frost."
"I like you too."
The biscuits were passed to Sebastian. He took four. Miss Frost stirring in the sugar. They preoccupied their eyes. O the eyes.
Yes eyes.
No eyes.
What things
They see.
Some say happiness
Others
Misery.
O the eyes.
Oaye,
The eyes.
"Miss Frost?"
"Yes?"
"I'm going to be quite honest, as I know I can be with you, without being misunderstood"
"Yes, Mr. Dangerfield?"
"Miss Frost, may I sleep in your bedroom?"
There was a pause. Miss Frost's face was touched with a bit of redness. Her eyes gone down to the coffee. Sebastian continuing in the voice of good fellowship, a businesslike sound.
"I don't want you to misunderstand me, Miss Frost. I'll put my mattress on your floor. It's a rather peculiar thing with me. Having had so much upset I don't think I could bear to sleep alone. Would you mind awfully? I know it must seem a bit irregular, but dash it all, I may as well be honest."
"O no, Mr. Dangerfield, it isn't irregular at all. I know how you must feel. I don't mind. I understand what you mean."
"It's really very kind of you, Miss Frost. To take it like this."
"But are you sure you won't be uncomfortable? I don't mind sleeping on the floor, I'm used to it. I did a lot of it in the land army."
"Heh, heh, not a bit. The mattress is absolutely perfect It's just that I hope I'm not imposing."
"You're not imposing, Mr. Dangerfield."
"I'm enjoying your coffee. Very good."
"I'm glad. I make it in a jug."
"Proper way."
"Yes."
"This has been a most pleasant evening for me, Miss frost"
"I enjoyed it too."
"I'm glad you did"
"So many people look down on a woman who goes into a public house."
"Old fashioned, Miss Frost"
"I agree."
Miss Frost cleared away. Ran water. Hear the sound of cleanliness in there. Nothing like not facing grease slimed dishes of a morning. I'm in here getting my mattress. It's gray, striped, and a wet mass. Gently now, on the floor. I've got to have a blanket Can't let Miss frost see these dirty sheets