Part 9 (1/2)
”And my sister to a lunatic asylum!” said Philip, exasperated. ”I say, why doesn't that man Anderson come and see us?”
”He promised to come in and lunch.”
”He's an awfully decent kind of fellow,” said the boy warmly.
Elizabeth opened her eyes.
”I didn't know you had taken any notice of him, Philip.”
”No more I did,” was the candid reply. ”But did you see what he brought me this morning?” He pointed to the seat behind him, littered with novels, which Elizabeth recognized as new additions to their travelling store. ”He begged or borrowed them somewhere from his friends or people in the hotel; told me frankly he knew I should be bored to-day, and might want them. Rather 'cute of him, wasn't it?”
Elizabeth was touched. Philip had certainly shown rather scant civility to Mr. Anderson, and this trait of thoughtfulness for a sickly and capricious traveller appealed to her.
”I suppose Delaine will be here directly?” Philip went on.
”I suppose so.”
Philip let himself down into the seat beside her.
”Look here, Elizabeth,” lowering his voice; ”I don't think Delaine is any more excited about Canada than I am. He told me last night he thought the country about Winnipeg perfectly hideous.”
”_Oh_!” cried Elizabeth, as though someone had flipped her.
”You'll have to pay him for this journey, Elizabeth. Why did you ask him to come?”
”I _didn't_ ask him, Philip. He asked himself.”
”Ah! but you let him come,” said the youth shrewdly. ”I think, Elizabeth, you're not behaving quite nicely.”
”How am I not behaving nicely?”
”Well, you don't pay any attention to him. Do you know what he was doing while you were looking at the cows yesterday?”
Elizabeth reluctantly confessed that she had no idea.
”Well, he was sitting by a lake--a kind of swamp--at the back of the house, reading a book.” Philip went off into a fit of laughter.
”Poor Mr. Delaine!” cried Elizabeth, though she too laughed. ”It was probably Greek,” she added pensively.
”Well, that's funnier still. You know, Elizabeth, he could read Greek at home. It's because you were neglecting him.”
”Don't rub it in, Philip,” said Elizabeth, flus.h.i.+ng. Then she moved up to him and laid a coaxing hand on his arm. ”Do you know that I have been awake half the night?”
”All along of Delaine? Shall I tell him?”
”Philip, I just want you to be a dear, and hold your tongue,” said Lady Merton entreatingly. ”When there's anything to tell, I'll tell you. And if I have--”
”Have what?”
”Behaved like a fool, you'll have to stand by me.” An expression of pain pa.s.sed over her face.