She held out her hand to him and, in a paroxysm of ardent feeling, he clutched it and kissed it passionately. A moment later he was gone.
As the door closed Elia stepped into the light. The girl had forgotten all about him. Now she was startled.
“Eve, wot fer did you lie about that?” he said, pointing at her bandaged head.
The girl’s head was aching so that it seemed it would split, and she closed her eyes. But the boy would not be denied.
“You lied, sis,” he exclaimed vehemently, though his face and eyes were quite calm. “Will did that, ’cause you wouldn’t give him thirty dollars. I see him throw you ’crost the room. I hate him.”
Eve was wide-eyed now.
“You saw him?” she cried in alarm. Then she paused. Suddenly her tone changed. “Come here, Elia,” she said gently.
The boy came toward her and she took one of his hands and fondled it.
“How did you see him?” she went on.
“Through the window. I was waitin’ fer supper.” In spite of her caress the boy was sulky.