MARY ROSE. No, alas, we go across to-morrow.
CAMERON. I hope the weather will be favourable.
MARY ROSE. Thank you (passing him the sandwiches). And now, you know, you are our guest.
CAMERON. I am much obliged. (He examines the sandwiches with curiosity.) Butcher-meat! This iss ferry excellent.
(He bursts into a surprising fit of laughter, and suddenly cuts it off.)
Please to excuse my behaviour. You haf been laughing at me all this time, but you did not know I haf been laughing at myself also, though keeping a remarkable control over my features. I will now haf my laugh out, and then I will explain. (He finishes his laugh.) I will now explain. I am not the solemn prig I haf pretended to you to be, I am really a fairly attractive young man, but I am shy and I haf been guarding against your taking liberties with me, not because of myself, who am nothing, but because of the noble profession it iss my ambition to enter. (They discover that they like him.)
MARY ROSE. Do tell us what that is.
CAMERON. It iss the ministry. I am a student of Aberdeen University, and in the vacation I am a boatman, or a ghillie, or anything you please, to help to pay my fees.
SIMON. Well done!
CAMERON. I am obliged to Mr. Blake. And I may say, now that we know one another socially, that there iss much in Mr. Blake which I am trying to copy.