Page:The Story of the Gadsbys - Kipling (1888).djvu/20

 cheek! I never had a woman say that to me yet. She must be a cool hand or else Ah! that nursery-tea!

—Tchk! Tchk! Tchk!

—Good gracious! What's that?

—The dog, I think. (Aside.) Emma has been listening and I'll never forgive her!

(aside).—They don't keep dogs here. (Aloud.) 'Didn't sound like a dog, did it?

—Then it must have been the cat. Let's go into the veranda. What a lovely evening it is! ''Steps into veranda and looks out across the hills into sunset. The Captain follows''.

(aside).—Superb eyes! I wonder that I never noticed them before? (Aloud.) There's going to be a dance at Viceregal Lodge on Wednesday. Can you spare me one?

—(shortly).—No! I don't want any of your charity-dances. You only ask me because Mamma told you to. I hop and I bump. You know I do!

(aside).—That's true, but little girls shouldn't understand these things. (Aloud.) No, on my word I don't. You dance beautifully.

—Then why do you always stand out after half a dozen turns? I thought officers in the Army didn't tell fibs.

—It wasn't a fib, believe me. I really do want the pleasure of a dance with you.

(wickedly).—Why? Won't Mamma dance with you any more?

(more earnestly than the necessity demands).—I wasn't thinking of your Mother. (Aside.) You little vixen!

(still looking out of the window).—Eh? Oh, I beg your pardon. I was thinking of something else.

(aside).—Well! I wonder what she'll say next. I've never known a woman treat me like this before. I might be—dash it, I might be an Infantry subaltern! (Aloud.) Oh, please don't trouble. I'm not worth thinking about. Isn't your Mother ready yet?