When they reached the camp Diana had already dismounted and gone into their tent, whither Meryl followed her.
"Well," she said, "how did you get on with The Bear? Did he chore you up over anything?"
Meryl considered a moment before replying. "One moment I thought him the rudest man I have ever met, and the next ..." she seemed puzzled how to explain.
"And the next I suppose he didn't seem a man at all, only a pillar of stone!..."
For answer, she said thoughtfully, "I wonder if something hurt him very badly some time or other?"
"If it did, it doesn't exempt him from the ordinary amenities of human intercourse. He isn't the only man who has been hurt." And Diana kicked off her boots impatiently.
"No," said Meryl; "but it makes it a little easier to forgive him."
"Don't do anything so foolish. You'll end by thinking him interesting and falling in love with him; which would be too utterly silly when you are as good as engaged to Dutch Willy, and when he, The Bear, would care about as much as my foot," with which dictum she put her head out through the tent flap, and called to Stanley and Carew, "Hey! Mr. Stanley! don't go away. Stay and keep us company in my uncle's absence. I believe he is venturing into The Bear's den to-night."
Carew smiled quite frankly for him.
"Can't I tempt you to come also? I daren't promise you a decent dinner, but I've some fresh Abdullah cigarettes out from home, if you care to come down afterwards."