"Of course he'd eat, it's your fault and the cook's if he didn't. Hector, where are you? Oh, there you are, why didn't you come out to meet me as you always do? Oh, Hector, I'm so sorry about your lunch, those stupid servants; and there was a guinea-fowl and the ham and——"
"It—it wasn't their fault, Lucy. They had the—the things ready, but I refused; I didn't feel like eating."
"Hector, you're ill; your voice is different somehow; come into the light, dear, and let me see," but Hector hung back.
"I'm all right, Lucy," he said hurriedly. "I've got rather a fit of the blues, that's all."
"And no wonder, being without food all this time. We'll have tea at once. Abdul, bring tea and two eggs for the sahib. And now sit down, and I'll tell you about the Swaines. Oh, Hector, why didn't you come? I was so disappointed."
"I—I was rather late getting back, Lucy. I—I—who was there?"
"Lots of people, and we'd such fun, not a bit like a farewell party. Captain Dance was there, you know, the man who does the comic parts at the theatre. And he was really most amusing, quite cheered me up, and—and oh, Hector, dear, he's given us a box for the theatre to-morrow night; you will come just for once, won't you? He's got a new song about Kruger, and I believe it's too funny. Oh, heavens, though, I forgot, General Quentin, don't say he's coming, please, Hector."
"He's—he's not, Lucy; he's rather busy just now, and——"
"Thank goodness, I should have been so disappointed, and we'll have a nice little dinner here together, just you and I, and go on to the play afterwards. Oh dear, I feel quite excited about it, I hope you do too, Hector."
"Lucy, my dearest."