Part 20 (2/2)
Miss Innes glanced in Pip's direction.
”So it is. I can recognise him,” she answered, with an air of gratified surprise. ”Will you take me to have some strawberries now, please?”
The couple departed, leaving Pip still hove-to on the horizon.
”Rum things, women,” mused the captain. ”This girl's quite out of the common. I thought at first she must be keen on Pip, or something; but she doesn't seem even to know him. Not often you get a woman taking a purely sporting interest in a man like that!”
Which is nothing but the truth.
Delighted to find a woman possessed of ”some sense,” Cayley, who was by nature a homely person with bachelor instincts, unbent still further, with the result that the end of a long bout of cricket ”shop” with Elsie found him fully convinced--somewhat to his surprise, for he had hitherto been unable to make up his mind on the subject--that Pip was exactly the man he wanted for next Monday.
Elsie finally joined Pip, who was waiting, slightly depressed, to take her away.
”Had a good time?” she inquired brightly, as they walked home.
”Rotten,” said Pip.
”Didn't you meet any friends?”
”Yes, a good many 'Varsity men.”
”I meant lady friends.”
”I haven't got any,” said Pip glumly.
”You should speak the truth,” said his companion with some acerbity.
”How about Miss Carr?”
Pip glanced at her; and then, moved by an impulse which he did not quite understand at the time, he said, with sudden and unwonted heat,--
”I never wish to set eyes on Miss Carr again.”
After this outburst they walked on silently, till they came to a house in Suss.e.x Gardens.
”I live here,” said Miss Innes. ”Good-bye, and thank you so much for bringing me home.”
They shook hands.
”When shall I see you again?” said Pip regretfully.
The girl smiled at his frank seriousness.
”Lord's, on Monday,” she said. ”Come and see me in the luncheon hour, or before, if Cambridge is batting.”
”I say,” said Pip gruffly, ”aren't you rather taking things for granted?”
”You mean your coming to see me?”
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