Page:The Lark - E Nesbit, 1922.djvu/37

38 And don't you think it would be a good scheme to try to be polite, and drop ragging each other?"

"You can't," said Lucilla.

"Well, anyhow, I think we shall have to try; at any rate, not to say, 'Don't be silly' before we know what the other one's going to say."

"I apologise," said Lucilla, "and leave the omnibus."

"Nonsense," said Jane. "I didn't mean that; it might just as well have been me. And now I'm going to tell you something." "I beg your pardon," said a voice, "but can you tell me how far it is to Leabridge?"

They turned, to find at Lucilla's elbow a young man in knee-breeches. He held in one hand a panama hat and in the other a glass of gingerbeer.

"Oh!" said Lucilla, with what was almost a cry.

"I am sorry if I startled you," he said.

"Not at all," said Lucilla; "at least, you did rather, but it doesn't matter—and we don't know anything about Leabridge. I'm sorry. But they'd know in the inn, wouldn't they?"

"I suppose they would," said the young man, as though this were a completely new idea. "They're sensible people, I suppose?"

"I don't know," said Lucilla; "we aren't staying here. We just came to have breakfast"—she indicated the greasy plates and sloppy cups. "But they'll be sure to know, of course."

"Yes. Thank you so much," said the stranger. "You see, I've been in the Red Sea for over four years, and I don't seem to know where anything is. It's wonderful how different Kent is to the Red Sea."

"It must be," said Lucilla, rather stiffly. "I'm sorry we can't help you."

"Not at all," said he vaguely. "Thank you so much." And with that he retreated to the furthest of the green tables.