“That’s rubbish!”
“It’s really true!”
“I didn’t know you were so superstitious!”
“I used never to think of it. I’ve begun to think of it just lately.... Theo, can there be anything!”
“There’s nothing ... but kissing.”
“No, Theo, don’t, be quiet, I’m frightened!... It’s quite late. It gets dark so quickly. Papa has finished his sleep, Theo. Go away now, Theo ... through the boudoir. I want to take my bath quickly. I’m frightened nowadays when it gets dark. There’s no twilight, with the rains. The evenings come all of a sudden.... The other day, I had not told them to bring a light into the bathroom ... and already it was so dark ... at only half-past five ... and two bats were flying all over the place: I was so afraid that they would catch in my hair.... Hush! Is that papa?”
“No, it’s Doddie: she’s playing with her cockatoo.”
“Go now, Theo.”
He went through the boudoir, and wandered into the garden. She got up, flung a kimono over the sarong which she had knotted loosely under her arms and called to Oorip:
“Bring the bath-things.”