Page:Georgie by Dorothea Deakin, 1906.djvu/180

"Georgie" doing with the motor?" said he. "If you loved me, you 'd want me to be happy. It's my first season with the county—and only my second match. Why, even my mother wouldn't dare to—"

Diana sighed.

"Mothers are used to giving up," she said quietly. "And she's had you always till now. Mothers expect to sit at home and wait for telegrams and tremble at every ring of the bell. They are broken in to anxiety, but I am not. I'm young, you see, and I haven't learnt to bear suspense. Even when the boys play—oh, I can't bear it."

Georgie turned and faced her grimly.

"Di," he said, "you are simply absurd. You aren't consistent. The percentage of people who are hurt in football is tiny—tiny—compared with—with hunting, for instance—or motoring."

The Scarlet Runner snorted indignant dissent and Diana shook her head.

"I don't believe there's any danger to you from the motor now," she said. "You 164