Mortimer broke loose from the men around him, and went instantly to Cameron, whom he had quickly seen while drilling. He carried him off direct to his tent.
'I'm awfully sorry to have kept you waiting so long,' he said. 'Here, try this deck-chair, it's more comfortable than that bench. And what will you have to drink? Oh, I know, you like lemon squash.' He turned to a rough-looking fellow at the door. 'Go down to the canteen, Brady, like a good fellow, and get a jug of lemon squash. Here's the money.' He turned back to Cameron. 'I'd have given anything to get away when I saw you, but you can guess what it is out there.'
'Yes, yes,' said Cameron, 'it doesn't matter; it was all interesting. I have been looking about.'
Mortimer gave him a sharp look.
'Is all well up there?' he said. 'It isn't often you come down.'
'Nothing's wrong,' said Cameron, 'I came down to meet my wife, that's all.'
'Of course, of course,' said Mortimer; 'stupid of me. I was reading about it only this morning in the paper—about the big welcome the citizens intend to give your little girl. There is to be a launch—the Government launch, isn't it?—and the mayor and no end of people are going up the harbour to meet her.'
'Are they?' said Cameron.
'You've been consulted about it, surely?' said Mortimer warmly. 'They're not doing all this without referring to you?'
Cameron straightened himself a little.