These symptoms failed to startle Mrs. Rodjezke. Their absence would have
been more of a surprise. She sat staring at the lake and trying to keep
track of her children. But their dark heads lost themselves in the noisy
crowds in front of her and she gave that up. They would return in due
time. Mrs. Rodjezke must not be criticized for a maternal indifference.
The children of scrubwomen always return in due time.
* * * * *
Mrs. Rodjezke had come to the lake to cool off. The idea of going for a
swim had been in her head for at least three years. She had always been
able to overcome it, but this time somehow it had got the better of her
and she had moved almost blindly toward the water front.
"I will get a rest in the water," she thought.
But now on the beach Mrs. Rodjezke found it difficult to rest. The dishes
weren't washed in the kitchen home. The clothes needed changing on the
beds. And other things. Lots of other things.
Mrs. Rodjezke sighed as the shouts of the bathers floated by her ears. The
sun had almost gone down and the lake looked dull. Faintly colored clouds
were beginning to hide the water. It was no use. Mrs. Rodjezke couldn't
rest. She sat and stared harder at the lake.
Pages:
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231