Evening star., 1935-12-15

~AS0SSAhClAb AhlS tliC 0IA dlAOiA Vi IAhG WY
age. Where was the harm1 1t was just bit of
fun. Later, perhaps, she would tell him. -.
Nigel Raynor however, did not ask her
about herself. He sat, his eyes on the far
horizon that faded into twilight, thinking his
own thoughts. Sandra wasn't sure he had not
forgotten all about her.
Back in her cabin, dressing for dinner, she
ran her comb impatiently through her hair.
She hardly knew what to make of him. He
was impersonal as the sea gulls that wheeled
among the rigging; his eye was almost as cold.
She half wished she hadn't drawn him as
partner after all. She wished she had let the
girl in the scarlet beret have him. A fat lot she
would have made of him. Yet it was dismal
to fail From the first, Sandra was aware of
this feeling of failure in the air! She couldn't
bear it.
He was there at the dancing. standing as
usual afar off. Sandra went up to him. laugh
ing. Ours, fancy" she said.
He smiled down at her, raising one eye
brow, and took her in his arms. 8. =. He danced
beautifully.
why didn't you, the other night?" she
scolded. Il was dying to dance with you"
Nigel Raynor said absolutely nothing.
His arm did not tighten about her, as the
arm of the First Officer would have done, and
his cheek did not touch her hair, as the cheek
of Ronnie would have done. He held her in
his arms, and still she felt him hundred
miles away.
II wish" said Sandra, little later, as they
leaned side by side over the rail, watching
very young moon find its way across the sky,
'you were not quite so wooden"
He repeated the word softly, half under
his breath. as if trying it on to see whether it
really fitted him. Then, suddenly, he threw
back his head and laughed.
There was something in that laugh that in
fuiated Sandra, and goaded her on to rash
ness. Don't you enjoy life at all2 Aren't you
ever quite human? always feel you are far far
away, just looking on, feeling superior -. :"
mo" he corrected her gently, mot su-
perior, Sandra. Only don't particularly want
to play. That's ALL"
But why not1 Look what you miss. And
where is the harm in having little fun1"
He looked at her now for the first time, full
in the face. His eyes in the darkness held that
curious blue fire. $50 that s what you want is
it? A bit of fun!''
"Why not? Life is short" She added the
slogan of her set, "And one is dead very long
time"
II suppose you are the Modern Girl have
read about"
Don't tell me-" mocked Sandra. very
worldly, that you are the good young man
nobody has ever kissed2"
mo | am the old-fashioned man who be-
leves in faithfulness."
Sandra burst out laughing But you
mean to say you are faithful to someone you
have never metW
"Someday shall meet her. Until then, l
don't want to play around"
"You don't mind my laughing, do you,
Nigel2 Only you are so dreadfully out-of-date.
People simply don't look at things like that,
nowadays. mean, where have you been all
these years?"
"On top of a hill, in Ceylon!
She slipped hand through his arm. Come
off your hill top for little while, Nigel. It's
fun, lower down.
He looked at her. The corners of his mouth
curled in little smile that made him look
very boyish. "Do you want me to?"
"Yes."
"All right, Sandra. But you know, Pm not