attractive to be able to tear themselves away until the very last launch; in fact, it might be just as well if a few missed even that.” Maimie’s cheeks dimpled mischievously. “I know some that I wouldn’t mind leaving behind for good!”
“So do I!” Claud laughed. “That bewhiskered old fellow at our table for one! Can’t think what he hopes to do out East. He told me he was sick of England and wanted to make a fresh start. Bit late in life, I should think,” Claud jeered, then added more seriously, “I say, Maimie, is it true that you are going out to get married?”
“Yes, quite true.” Maimie raised her eyebrows quizzically. “Does it seem so strange?”
“No. Terribly natural.” Claud lowered his eyes to hide his expression. “Most attractive girls are engaged—or married; at least, that’s how it’s always appeared to me.” He paused for a moment before adding, “I seem to be unlucky.”
“I really don’t know what you mean by that. I expect you’ve had plenty of attractive girlfriends in your time.” Maimie’s eyes glanced up provocatively. “Haven’t you?”
Claud laughed a trifle shamefacedly. “Of course I’ve had girlfriends in plenty, but who has been telling you I’m a flirt?”
“I didn’t even suggest you were. You must have a guilty conscience to have jumped to that conclusion.” Maimie laughed teasingly. “Are you?” Her question was a direct challenge.
“I really don ’ t know. I haven’t thought about it.” Claud moved closer, to his companion and curled his arm beneath hers. “Why waste time talking about me? Don’t let’s spoil these delicious moments of solitude; we’ll have the whole crowd dropping down on us soon.” As Maimie remained silent, he continued. “ Things of the future seem so far away. It’s always like that on a ship—as if one were living a separate existence, just for the length of the voyage; a life right outside one’s ordinary sphere in a world entirely isolated.” He drew her closer, leaning above her until his lips brushed the fair halo of her hair. “You feel like that too, don’t you?” He whispered the question with a quiet passion.
“Yes, I suppose so.” Maimie lay passively in his embrace. “This all seems rather like a fairy tale.”
“It is. That’s the beauty of it. You mustn’t let any of it be real, and then it can’t hurt you.” He stooped lower until his cheek rested against hers. “Maimie, you’re lovely. I expect you’re tired of being told that, but I mean it. You’re—you’re exquisite! Any man would lose his head about you.” He paused, and when he spoke again his words were almost a caress. “Tell me you care a wee bit about me too.”
“Claud—dear—aren’t we both a little crazy?” He made no answer beyond drawing her unresisting form more closely to him, and lightly kissing her fluttering eyelids. For a moment Maimie remained unresponsive, then with a scarcely perceptible movement she lifted her lips to his.
“Sweetness, darling, darling ... ” Claud’s words of endearment were hardly audible as he held Maimie in an ardent embrace. “What does it matter if we are crazy? We’ve nearly three weeks in front of us; we needn’t return to sanity for a long while yet.”
“ I know. I suppose you’re right.” Despite the doubt in her tone, Maimie made no effort to release herself. “I suppose it’s very silly of us...” Her voice trailed away.
“Don’t worry, my precious, it ’ s ... ” Claud’s words died on his lips as, suddenly relaxing his hold, he drew away. “Good heavens, the wanderers have returned!” he exclaimed, hoping that his voice sounded natural and that his expression did not betray the dismay he was feeling.
Maimie, instinctively following her companion’s lead, sat up and swung round to face the direction of his gaze. For a moment she felt tongue-tied, then, swiftly regaining her normal poise, joined Claud in greeting the arrivals. “Hallo,
“So do I!” Claud laughed. “That bewhiskered old fellow at our table for one! Can’t think what he hopes to do out East. He told me he was sick of England and wanted to make a fresh start. Bit late in life, I should think,” Claud jeered, then added more seriously, “I say, Maimie, is it true that you are going out to get married?”
“Yes, quite true.” Maimie raised her eyebrows quizzically. “Does it seem so strange?”
“No. Terribly natural.” Claud lowered his eyes to hide his expression. “Most attractive girls are engaged—or married; at least, that’s how it’s always appeared to me.” He paused for a moment before adding, “I seem to be unlucky.”
“I really don’t know what you mean by that. I expect you’ve had plenty of attractive girlfriends in your time.” Maimie’s eyes glanced up provocatively. “Haven’t you?”
Claud laughed a trifle shamefacedly. “Of course I’ve had girlfriends in plenty, but who has been telling you I’m a flirt?”
“I didn’t even suggest you were. You must have a guilty conscience to have jumped to that conclusion.” Maimie laughed teasingly. “Are you?” Her question was a direct challenge.
“I really don ’ t know. I haven’t thought about it.” Claud moved closer, to his companion and curled his arm beneath hers. “Why waste time talking about me? Don’t let’s spoil these delicious moments of solitude; we’ll have the whole crowd dropping down on us soon.” As Maimie remained silent, he continued. “ Things of the future seem so far away. It’s always like that on a ship—as if one were living a separate existence, just for the length of the voyage; a life right outside one’s ordinary sphere in a world entirely isolated.” He drew her closer, leaning above her until his lips brushed the fair halo of her hair. “You feel like that too, don’t you?” He whispered the question with a quiet passion.
“Yes, I suppose so.” Maimie lay passively in his embrace. “This all seems rather like a fairy tale.”
“It is. That’s the beauty of it. You mustn’t let any of it be real, and then it can’t hurt you.” He stooped lower until his cheek rested against hers. “Maimie, you’re lovely. I expect you’re tired of being told that, but I mean it. You’re—you’re exquisite! Any man would lose his head about you.” He paused, and when he spoke again his words were almost a caress. “Tell me you care a wee bit about me too.”
“Claud—dear—aren’t we both a little crazy?” He made no answer beyond drawing her unresisting form more closely to him, and lightly kissing her fluttering eyelids. For a moment Maimie remained unresponsive, then with a scarcely perceptible movement she lifted her lips to his.
“Sweetness, darling, darling ... ” Claud’s words of endearment were hardly audible as he held Maimie in an ardent embrace. “What does it matter if we are crazy? We’ve nearly three weeks in front of us; we needn’t return to sanity for a long while yet.”
“ I know. I suppose you’re right.” Despite the doubt in her tone, Maimie made no effort to release herself. “I suppose it’s very silly of us...” Her voice trailed away.
“Don’t worry, my precious, it ’ s ... ” Claud’s words died on his lips as, suddenly relaxing his hold, he drew away. “Good heavens, the wanderers have returned!” he exclaimed, hoping that his voice sounded natural and that his expression did not betray the dismay he was feeling.
Maimie, instinctively following her companion’s lead, sat up and swung round to face the direction of his gaze. For a moment she felt tongue-tied, then, swiftly regaining her normal poise, joined Claud in greeting the arrivals. “Hallo,
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