St. Urbain's Horseman Read Online Free PDF

pleased I’ve come to stay with you. It’s a help, isn’t it?”
    â€œYes, Maw.”
    â€œI’m glad. The children love me, they’re adorable.”
    Jake squashed the unopened letter into his dressing gown pocket.
    â€œI’ve been here a week and you haven’t once said how I look to you. Wouldn’t you say I carry my years well? Don’t you think I look young for my age?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œEverybody says so. Dr. Bercovitch, he adores me, when I went to see him about the lump on my breast, this one, he was amazed. Simply amazed.
You’re
sixty-two, he said. I don’t believe it. With such breasts. And he’s a doctor, you know. I get hot flushes, that’s all. Nature is full of amazing beauty, but it can be cruel too. Well, the lawyers will cost you plenty?”
    Nancy called from the kitchen. “Darling, would you like some coffee?”
    â€œComing.”
    Sipping coffee, pretending to be engrossed in the
Guardian
, Jake slid his foot along under the table until he touched Nancy. How he wished she would not nurse the baby at the kitchen table while his mother was there. Mrs. Hersh’s hot appraising eye on Nancy’s bosom enraged Jake. Suddenly Nancy let out a cry.
    â€œJake was a biter too, such a biter. I had tooth marks all around the nipples. He wouldn’t remember, would you,
ketzelle?”
    â€œDo you mind,” Jake asked, “if I take my coffee into the sitting room?”
    But he could still hear her from there.
    â€œJake says I carry my years very well. He thinks I look young for my age. Of course,” Mrs. Hersh added, probing, “maybe he was just flattering?”
    This once, Nancy failed to deliver reassurances.
    â€œMy jaw’s caved in a little, but listen, you can’t tell with me, my teeth they’re artificial. With others, they have them done up so white it’s pathetic. With me it isn’t vanity. Listen, I’m no fool. I don’t kid myself or go in for blue rinses. To grow old isn’t a pleasure.”
    â€œBut one must retain a certain dignity,” Nancy said in spite of herself.
    â€œYes, that’s the truth. But it isn’t like I was ever a raving beauty.” Shooting Nancy a hot bright look, she added, “For a beautiful woman, it’s worse, it must be utter hell to grow old.”
    The baby howled briefly as Nancy moved him to another breast.
    â€œYou must take care, doll. The milk can stretch the skin something awful. You want to take care of yourself.”
    Oh Nancy, Jake thought, Nancy my darling, and he began to sob. Without control. Without dignity. But with sufficient presence of mind to slip out of the sitting room and into the toilet. A torn section of the Saturday edition of the Montreal
Star
was folded over the radiator, opened at a full page Eaton’s ad. Sports equipment and clothes.
    Eaton’s, Jake remembered, on a Saturday morning. It was Duddy, Duddy Kravitz, who took him there, only this time instead of trying to lift stuff in the toy department, they went directly to lingerie and when nobody was looking darted into the hall with changing rooms. Duddy pushed open the door just in time to gawk at a gorgeous girl stooping to snuggle into a black lace brassiere. A fat saleslady let out a shriek.
    â€œI was only looking for my Aunt Ettie,” Duddy whined, retreating.
    The saleslady snatched Duddy by the arm. “I’m going to get the manager and have you sent to reform school for life. Filthy things.”
    â€œAunt Ettie,” Duddy hollered.
    â€œOh, let him go,” the girl said.
    Duddy stepped on the saleslady’s foot and they were off, scooting between shoppers, and flying down the escalator. Outside, Duddy said, “Did you see her bazooms, butt? What a handful!”
    â€œA lot of good it did you.”
    â€œShmeck!
Let him go, that’s what she
said
, but did you see where she was
looking?
Right at my