Part 46 (1/2)
”It is pleasant to be appreciated and to carry away with one memories, I will not say tender, but appreciative.”
”I can't act like a boor. I must be decent to the girl. Besides, she isn't altogether a fool.”
”No, but very crude, very primitive, very pa.s.sionate, and therefore very defenseless.”
”All right, I shall simply shake hands and go.”
So, with the consequent sense of relief that high resolve always brings, Cameron lay down again and fell into slumber and dreams of home.
From these dreams of home Mandy recalled him with a summons to dinner.
As his eye, still filled with the vision of his dreams, fell upon her in all the gorgeous splendour of her Sunday dress, he was conscious of a strong sense of repulsion. How coa.r.s.e, how crude, how vulgar she appeared, how horribly out of keeping with those scenes through which he had just been wandering in his dreams.
”I want no dinner, Mandy,” he said shortly. ”I have a bad head and I am not hungry.”
”No dinner?” That a man should not want dinner was to Mandy quite inexplicable, unless, indeed, he were ill.
”Are you sick?” she cried in quick alarm.
”No, I have a headache. It will pa.s.s away,” said Cameron, turning over on his side. Still Mandy lingered.
”Let me bring you a nice piece of pie and a cup of tea.”
Cameron shuddered.
”No,” he said, ”bring me nothing. I merely wish to sleep.”
But Mandy refused to be driven away.
”Say, I'm awful sorry. I know you're sick.”
”Nonsense!” said Cameron, impatiently, waiting for her to be gone. Still Mandy hesitated.
”I'm awful sorry,” she said again, and her voice, deep, tender, full-toned, revealed her emotion.
Cameron turned impatiently towards her.
”Look here, Mandy! There's nothing wrong with me. I only want a little sleep. I shall be all right to-morrow.”
But Mandy's fears were not to be allayed.
”Say,” she cried, ”you look awful bad.”
”Oh, get out, Mandy! Go and get your dinner. Don't mind me.” Cameron's tone was decidedly cross.
Without further remonstrance Mandy turned silently away, but before she turned Cameron caught the gleam of tears in the great blue eyes. A swift compunction seized him.
”I say, Mandy, I don't want to be rude, but--”
”Rude?” cried the girl. ”You? You couldn't be. You are always good--to me--and--I--don't--know--” Here her voice broke.
”Oh, come, Mandy, get away to dinner. You are a good girl. Now leave me alone.”