〃I did want to see。 Isnt it lovely living on a barge?〃 asked
Ursula。
〃I dont live on one altogether;〃 said the woman
cheerfully。
〃Shes got her parlour an her plush suite in Loughborough;〃
said her husband with just pride。
Ursula peeped into the cabin; where saucepans were boiling
and some dishes were on the table。 It was very hot。 Then she
came out again。 The man was talking to the baby。 It was a
blue…eyed; fresh…faced thing with floss of red…gold hair。
〃Is it a boy or a girl?〃 she asked。
〃Its a girl……arent you a girl; eh?〃 he shouted at the
infant; shaking his head。 Its little face wrinkled up into the
oddest; funniest smile。
〃Oh!〃 cried Ursula。 〃Oh; the dear! Oh; how nice when she
laughs!〃
〃Shell laugh hard enough;〃 said the father。
〃What is her name?〃 asked Ursula。
〃She hasnt got a name; shes not worth one;〃 said the man。
〃Are you; you fag…end o nothing?〃 he shouted to the baby。 The
baby laughed。
〃No weve been that busy; weve never took her to th
registry office;〃 came the womans voice。 〃She was born on th
boat here。〃
〃But you know what youre going to call her?〃 asked
Ursula。
〃We did think of Gladys Emly;〃 said the mother。
〃We thought of nowt o th sort;〃 said the father。
〃Hark at him! What do you want? cried the mother in
exasperation。
〃Shell be called Annabel after th boat she was born
on。〃
〃Shes not; so there;〃 said the mother; viciously defiant
The father sat in humorous malice; grinning。
〃Well; youll see;〃 he said。
And Ursula could tell; by the womans vibrating exasperation;
that he would never give way。
〃Theyre all nice names;〃 she said。 〃Call her Gladys Annabel
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