`` Where is Lawrie ? '' she asked abruptly ; as she entered the small kitchen where George Eastman was lounging by the fire . `` Out in the stable grooming up Lady Grey , '' responded her older son sulkily . `` I suppose he 's gadding off to see Bessy Houghton again , the young fool that he is ! Why do n't you put a stop to it ? '' `` I am going to put a stop to it , '' said Mrs. Eastman grimly . `` I 'd have done it before if I 'd known . You should have told me of it if you knew . I 'm going out to see Lawrence right now . '' George Eastman muttered something inaudible as the door closed behind her . He was a short , thickset man , not in the least like Lawrence , who was ten years his junior . Two years previously he had made a furtive attempt to pay court to Bessy Houghton for the sake of her wealth , and her decided repulse of his advances was a remembrance that made him grit his teeth yet . He had hated her bitterly ever since . Lawrence was brushing his pet mare 's coat until it shone like satin , and whistling `` Annie Laurie '' until the rafters rang . Bessy had sung it for him the night before . He could see her plainly still as she had looked then , in her gown of vivid red -- a colour peculiarly becoming to her -- with her favourite laces at wrist and throat and a white rose in her hair , which was dressed in the high , becoming knot she had always worn since the night he had shyly told her he liked it so . She had played and sung many of the sweet old Scotch ballads for him , and when she had gone to the door with him he had taken both her hands in his and , emboldened by the look in her brown eyes , he had stooped and kissed her . Then he had stepped back , filled with dismay at his own audacity . But Bessy had said no word of rebuke , and only blushed hotly crimson . She must care for him , he thought happily , or else she would have been angry .
When his mother came in at the stable XXXXX her face was hard and uncompromising .
audacity brushing dismay door fool gown junior man son stop