Page:Strange Interlude (1928).djvu/313

Rh

[Hectically]

Right!

[He looks through the glasses—excitedly]

I see a flashing in the water way up there! Must be their oars! They’re coming! I’ll tell Sam!

[He hurries into the cabin]

[Thinking dully]

He’ll tell Sam no, he doesn’t mean that  I must find some other way

[Walks a bit uncertainly to chair]

Gordon really should get beaten today—for the good of his soul, Nina. That Madeline is pretty, isn’t she? These Gordons are too infernally lucky—while we others—

[He almost starts to blubber—angrily]

we others have got to beat him today!

[He slumps clumsily down to a sitting position on then deck by her chair and takes her hand and pats it]

There, there, Nina Cara Nina! Don’t worry your pretty head! It will all come out all right! We’ll only have a little while longer to wait and then you and I’ll be quietly married!

[Thinking frightenedly]

The devil! what am I saying? I’m drunk! all right, all the better! I’ve wanted all my life to tell her!

Of course, I realize you’ve got a husband at present but, never mind, I can wait. I’ve waited a lifetime already; but