Archiwum
- Index
- Diana Palmer Big Spur,Texas 02 Passion Flower
- Willa Okati And Call Me In the Morning
- 162. Schuler Candace Przeszlosc nie umiera
- 061. Darcy Emma Weekend w Tokyo
- Courths_Mahler Jadwiga WśÂ›ród obcych t2
- Alvin Boyd Kuhn (EN) A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom
- Chaptr10
- Richard Matheson Jestem legendÄ…
- WypatrujÄ…c swego przeznaczenia
- Anthony, Piers Xanth 21 Faun & Games
- zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- docucrime.xlx.pl
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Sea people. You should see him handle them." Her grey eyes
were soft in their unspectacular setting. "He talks to them in
pidgin Malay or Chinese, gets a giggle out of them, however
bad they feel. Dan looks stolid, but he isn't."
"He's not stolid - he's splendid. And he doesn't mind what
you say to him. I even asked him why he hadn't married."
"I've asked him, too," Jean said dryly. "Whatever he says,
the fact is he hasn't met anyone he wants to marry." She
looked away. "I think he's a bit gone on your cousin
though."
Katie cast her a glance, saw something which hurt. It
wasn't blatant, but if you were tuned in to it, it showed.
"Lorina's quite beautiful," she said, "and in her time she's
saddened quite a few hearts. Here, of course, they don't see
many really beautiful women. She's even made an impression
on Simon Forbes."
Jean asked, very casually, "Would she stay and marry one
of the men, do you think? I know it's early days to talk of
it, but things of that kind do happen quickly out here Would
she?"
"I honestly don't know, but I shouldn't think so. Lorina's
a clever person, and she's always wanted a business of her
own - wanted it more than marriage, I believe. I shouldn't
think she'd give up an ambition she's cherished so long, and
live in a way that doesn't appeal to her very much."
"What about . . . falling in love? Being a business type
doesn't exclude her from that possibility."
"No, it doesn't. But so far I'm pretty sure she's heartwhole
56
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I don't believe she. even thinks about marriage."
"You don't either, do you?"
Katie smiled self-consciously. "Your island has made me
dream a bit. I suppose you got over all that in a very short
time?"
Jean Petlow started to walk towards her scooter. Her
shoulders lifted. "When I came here I was in no mood to
dream. By the time I was ready to be affected by the sun and
the sea it was too late. I was an institution." Her smile was
a little tight. "I'm happier here than I would be anywhere
else, and what more can anyone aspire to?"
She started the bike, patted the tank almost affectionately
and with a word of thanks for the coffee, moved off. Katie
watched her go, a slight figure in a print dress astride a grey
scooter. The dust settled and she was gone.
Katie thought of the nurse's tired, smiling face which had
never been pretty but which had once been attractive and
young. Now, it seemed, Jean Petiow didn't think too much,
or bother with her appearance. All her energies were con-
centrated on her job at the clinic, and what was left of her
feelings had become channelled towards Dan Willis. For
something, Katie was sure, had stopped her from wanting to
feel many years ago. A man, naturally; it was always a man.
She had been very unhappy, once.
And it looked as though she were going to taste more of
the old medicine every time she saw Dan Willis and Lorina
together.
Oh, lord, what a muddle it was all becoming. She wanted
so much to talk to someone about it. Not Dan, of course;
with him one could only discuss ordinary topics and perhaps
Simon. Lorina was too intent upon her quest to be helpful
here on Numeh. And Simon?
Katie shivered. She didn't want to approach Simon unless
it was unavoidable.
She went off to wash her hands and tidy the breeze-blown
hair. Her face, she thought, should have looked much older
today. She felt as if she had put on a dozen years since her
arrival on Numeh.
57
CHAPTER IV
ON Monday there was a picnic at Mondulu Bay. The hotel
provided the food and all kinds of drinks, Simon Forbes was
host, and the guests included Major Crawley, who was both
a governmental and military authority on the island, a couple
of planters who were hereditary owners of land, their wives
and one son. Wongan Sue, who led the Chinese community,
Kim Kalai of the Malayans and some pretty island girls and
youths put in a brief appearance, but the party was mainly
white. Dr. Willis was there for lunch and Jean Peflow turned
up at tv/o o'clock.
Though Katie was looked at with pleasure, Lorina was the
chief attraction. In England, Katie recalled with surprise,
Lorina had been deemed good-looking but a trifle hard; she
had magnetised one or two men, but had not been unpopular
with women, as the beautiful of the sex often are. Here in
Numeh she was different. The tweedy appearance, which
might be discouraging, was gone, and in its place was an
ultra-feminine look, heightened by the soft red wavy hair and
green eyes. In the most dainty of summer clothes Lorina had
become a femme fatale.
This was even more obvious the following night, when
Simon gave a dinner party for the two women from England.
Lorina wore a youthful and exceptionally pretty creation in
willow green and her manner matched it. She smiled just
enough, expressed just the right degree of regret when some-
one asked for a dance that was already spoken for, and took
the floor in Simon's arms as if that was where she had longed
to be all her life. Katie watched him, saw his easy smile, the
dark glance as it slipped over the titian head and white
shoulders. Was he falling? Was he?
She asked herself the same question a day or two later, at
a function given for herself and Lorina by the stiff-necked
Major. Simon was charming and inscrutable, but unmistak-
58
ably appreciative. Dr. Willis, on the other hand, was anything
but inscrutable. His admiration was in his eyes, warm but a
little embarrased, as if he were perpetually reminding himself
that he was just Dan Willis, passing forty, a hard-working
doctor and no catch.
Katie found herself tightening up a little inside, yet she
didn't know why she should. It couldn't possibly have any-
thing to do with the fact that Lorina had produced, from
the trunk which had been stowed in the hold during the
voyage, a selection of clothes which Katie hadn't known she
possessed. It was enough to make one wonder, but not to
make one feel a little scared and depressed. But the clothes
stayed on her mind, and the next day, when she and Lorina
were lunching in the hotel dining room, Katie mentioned
them.
"I don't remember your buying the green, or the new black,
or those spotted and striped cottons ... or the nylon weave.
They're lovely," she said.
Lorina smiled, almost impishly. "I got the whole lot that
day I went up to London - cheaply, too, because they were
left over from an autumn display for people spending the
winter abroad. There'll be too many for England, so when we
get home I'll give you some of the dresses to see you through
the summer."
"They look anything but cheap, particularly the evening
dresses."
"Those did cost plenty," Lorina admitted. "As a matter of
fact," apologetically, "I did something I've never done before.
I borrowed a little money from Charles."
"Did he actually have some to spare?"
Lorina lost her smile. "That's unkind, Katie. He knew I'd
feel lost if I arrived here without a rag, so he helped me. And
by helping me, he helped you. Don't forget that."
"I'm sorry. They're marvellous clothes and everyone's fal-
ling for you."
"Not everyone. It's Simon I want."
"You wantT'
"To impress, of course! He won't fall in love - too cold
59
and canny - but if I can stir him enough to get the needful
, . . you wouldn't mind at all, would you?"
"No," said Katie reluctantly. She added, "I wish Dr. Willis
were a little less conscious of you/'
Lorina's laugh was light and silvery. "Don't tell me you've
a thing for dear old Dan! He's twice your age."
"It's not for myself," said Katie. "I believe Jean Petlow
feels it rather. She stays out of the gatherings, if she can."
"The nurse?" Lorina spoke the words in astonished tones,
and Katie knew they were genuine. Jean simply hadn't made
her presence felt.
"I think she's fond of the doctor."
"I daresay she is, but then nonentities often aim high with-
out getting anywhere."
"She's not aiming so high!" Katie was becoming a little
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