Page:Georgie by Dorothea Deakin, 1906.djvu/33

"Plain Anne" herself to sleep when I forgot to go and see them for a few days. I thought of that at the dance before I spoke."

"Oh," said I thoughtfully, "you did, did you?"

"Yes. It's a terrible hole to be in when you come to think it over."

I acknowledged to myself that he was right, and though the situation would have seemed almost laughable in its absurdity to an onlooker, for me it was almost a tragedy.

I thought of Drusilla with her dark hair and merry eyes; her round, dimpled face and sweet, alluring voice, and under my breath I cursed Georgie's soft heart; also his broad shoulders and Greek profile. So she cried when he neglected her! I felt suddenly that the moment for diplomacy on my own account was past. At all costs Drusilla must be happy. If she wanted Georgie, Georgie she must have. I had never had much real happiness in my life, and there was no reason why I should expect it now. Drusilla, young and kind and 17