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Authors: Marjorie Moore
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rose before the dawn to view my native shores. ” Veronica ’ s words seemed to tumble out of her mouth in her uncontrolled gaiety.
“ Well, I must say I didn ’ t expect such a welcome as this. I feel more like a long-lost lover than a girl friend. ” Mary laughed. “ Still, I agree with you that it is grand to be together again, and oh, you can ’ t imagine how thankful I am to get right away from ’ hospital, away from the noise and stuffiness of London! ” She drew a deep breath. “ Yes, this is gorgeous; I feel that I can really breathe here! ”
“ I don ’ t think the air is anything special in the station, ” Veronica teased. “ You wait until you get out to Windyridge! It ’ s more beautiful out there than ever, I think, and the mulberry-tree (do you remember the one we used to climb?), it ’ s absolutely immense, and gives the most lovely shade on the lawn. Jeanette and I scarcely go out of the grounds. Aunt Bess has kept them as wild as ever; they are exactly as they always used to be, and it ’ s gorgeous for Jeannie, absolutely safe for her to run all over the place. It ’ s been such perfect weather, too; we both simply live in sun-suits. I ’ m quite alarmingly tanned. ”
Mary looked surreptitiously at her friend. Yes, she was certainly brown, but there were deep shadows beneath her eyes which did not indicate the good health she should have enjoyed, considering the lazy, open-air life she was apparently leading. How thin she was, too, as though she were living at high tension; and the way she rattled on ... surely that was a form of nerves? It was so unlike the Veronica that Mary had previously known. But perhaps she was imagining things; it might merely be the effect of several years spent in the trying climate of the Orient, and of course, there was the excitement of this meeting.
“ Come on, Mary, I ’ ve brought the car along. I suppose you ’ ll entrust yourself to me. I ’ m quite reliable, really. Buses and cars don ’ t seem nearly as formidable on the road as water-buffalo and hordes of native children. Just chuck your case in the back and clamber in beside me. It won ’ t take very long to get to the house. ”
Mary did as she was bidden, and the car was soon speeding along the leafy country lanes. Veronica had grown curiously silent after her previous volubility, and it was not until they drew up outside Windyridge that she spoke again. “ I ’ m afraid Guy isn ’ t in just now. I hope you ’ ll excuse his absence. You see, visitors are always coming and going out East, so that he doesn ’ t consider that your advent on the scene is of any importance, ” she explained in doubtful tones.
“ It doesn ’ t matter a bit. Why should he bother about me anyway? Besides I don ’ t want to be treated as a true ‘ visitor ’ In fact, I almost suspect that he ’ s being tactful; probably he knows how much I shall enjoy having you to myself for a bit. ”
“ Hm! ” Veronica bit her lip. “ Afraid I shouldn ’ t call tact Guy ’ s strong point. To tell the truth, he imagines that because you ’ re a nurse you inevitably must be dull and plain !” She laughed a trifle shamefacedly. “ He ’ ll get a jolly little surprise when he does see you, and regret he didn ’ t trouble to stay in. He has an accurate eye for a pretty face and a good figure, ” she ended bitterly.
“ What man with his wits about him hasn ’ t? ” Mary demanded with a little laugh which she hoped would conceal the embarrassment her friend ’ s remarks had caused her. But she didn ’ t like the notion that Guy Perivale had gone off merely because he suspected that the newcomer would be a drab. Well, she presumed that he would put in an appearance at lunch, and then she might be able to gauge what type of man he was.
“ In that case, Guy .has got his wits about him all right, ” Veronica retorted.
“ Why, here we are. Look! That must be Mrs. Deans, ” Mary burst out as they drove
“ Well, I must say I didn ’ t expect such a welcome as this. I feel more like a long-lost lover than a girl friend. ” Mary laughed. “ Still, I agree with you that it is grand to be together again, and oh, you can ’ t imagine how thankful I am to get right away from ’ hospital, away from the noise and stuffiness of London! ” She drew a deep breath. “ Yes, this is gorgeous; I feel that I can really breathe here! ”
“ I don ’ t think the air is anything special in the station, ” Veronica teased. “ You wait until you get out to Windyridge! It ’ s more beautiful out there than ever, I think, and the mulberry-tree (do you remember the one we used to climb?), it ’ s absolutely immense, and gives the most lovely shade on the lawn. Jeanette and I scarcely go out of the grounds. Aunt Bess has kept them as wild as ever; they are exactly as they always used to be, and it ’ s gorgeous for Jeannie, absolutely safe for her to run all over the place. It ’ s been such perfect weather, too; we both simply live in sun-suits. I ’ m quite alarmingly tanned. ”
Mary looked surreptitiously at her friend. Yes, she was certainly brown, but there were deep shadows beneath her eyes which did not indicate the good health she should have enjoyed, considering the lazy, open-air life she was apparently leading. How thin she was, too, as though she were living at high tension; and the way she rattled on ... surely that was a form of nerves? It was so unlike the Veronica that Mary had previously known. But perhaps she was imagining things; it might merely be the effect of several years spent in the trying climate of the Orient, and of course, there was the excitement of this meeting.
“ Come on, Mary, I ’ ve brought the car along. I suppose you ’ ll entrust yourself to me. I ’ m quite reliable, really. Buses and cars don ’ t seem nearly as formidable on the road as water-buffalo and hordes of native children. Just chuck your case in the back and clamber in beside me. It won ’ t take very long to get to the house. ”
Mary did as she was bidden, and the car was soon speeding along the leafy country lanes. Veronica had grown curiously silent after her previous volubility, and it was not until they drew up outside Windyridge that she spoke again. “ I ’ m afraid Guy isn ’ t in just now. I hope you ’ ll excuse his absence. You see, visitors are always coming and going out East, so that he doesn ’ t consider that your advent on the scene is of any importance, ” she explained in doubtful tones.
“ It doesn ’ t matter a bit. Why should he bother about me anyway? Besides I don ’ t want to be treated as a true ‘ visitor ’ In fact, I almost suspect that he ’ s being tactful; probably he knows how much I shall enjoy having you to myself for a bit. ”
“ Hm! ” Veronica bit her lip. “ Afraid I shouldn ’ t call tact Guy ’ s strong point. To tell the truth, he imagines that because you ’ re a nurse you inevitably must be dull and plain !” She laughed a trifle shamefacedly. “ He ’ ll get a jolly little surprise when he does see you, and regret he didn ’ t trouble to stay in. He has an accurate eye for a pretty face and a good figure, ” she ended bitterly.
“ What man with his wits about him hasn ’ t? ” Mary demanded with a little laugh which she hoped would conceal the embarrassment her friend ’ s remarks had caused her. But she didn ’ t like the notion that Guy Perivale had gone off merely because he suspected that the newcomer would be a drab. Well, she presumed that he would put in an appearance at lunch, and then she might be able to gauge what type of man he was.
“ In that case, Guy .has got his wits about him all right, ” Veronica retorted.
“ Why, here we are. Look! That must be Mrs. Deans, ” Mary burst out as they drove
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