She wondered as she heard his half-uneasy “Yes, of course I’ll come the minute I can,” if there were any one standing near him. One could hear too much in a public place, if one were only near the instrument. Well, it could not be helped, and after all they might think it was a private matter—something contained in her own home mail. But in Key Island every one’s business is of importance to discuss for lack of one’s own, and even her own guarded sentences would have grown to a state secret before nightfall, had they been overhead.
Ally was so relieved to be easily excused that he really did as he had promised, and rode up before three o’clock, feeling a virtuous husband and deserving of much welcome and something to drink, for he was really very hot. He brought many invitations to consider themselves engaged for the next two days, beginning with a dance that night at the Wessex Mess, and including a breakfast party and two luncheons, for the mail boat and the Greville were both busy in friendly rivalry. The projected gaiety was driven out of his head, however, by his wife’s private news, and he was so really engrossed with the possibility of their removal, that Chum forgave him his defection from lunch, and came over and sat on the arm of his chair, while he read her friend’s letter.
“Great Scot, what luck!” he said with boyish excitement. “Chum, we must manage it, if you have to go on your knees to Gregory’s Powder, and I to lick old Sir Geoffrey’s boots! Malta or a home station—thank Heaven the old boy always liked me!”
“Did he like Brissy as well?” said Leoline anxiously, and without any enmity towards Brissy, feeling glad of his shortcomings. “Ally, he can’t have thought Brissy as nice as you!”
“Poor old Bristles! No, I do think I showed up rather well against him, you know, Chum. Anyhow it seems to rest with Gregory. What a good stroke that was of yours to play up to him, old girl! You always said he was a good man to have behind you—I think you’re the smartest Chum a fellow ever married! No, you don’t like that word, do you—I mean you’re the quickest, and the most farseeing——”
He broke off to laugh and put his arm round her as she leaned over his shoulder, giving her a boyish hug that seemed to take her breath away, for she freed herself of him with a protest like a cry.
“Don’t, Ally!—let me get up—I can’t breathe!—No, it’s nothing. Yes, of course we must have the appointment—it’s all in your hands now.”
“Mine! It’s much better in yours——”
“No!—no!—you must make a good impression, somehow. I am sure the Administrator likes you for yourself—every one does. It’s only that you will shirk, that annoys him. Don’t play tennis or polo quite so much—try and seem to have grasped the situation here—I’ll coach you. We must get away—oh, we must have that appointment!”
She spoke breathlessly, but he was excited also, and seemed to catch more fire from her. His face only fell once as he thought of the Greville and mail boat festivities.