They were very obstinate and very unwilling to entertain the thought of drudgery such as nursing after all their dreams of excitement; but at last they came to reason, and I sent for a cab and packed them off in it (I simply could not bear the idea of other people seeing them in that masquerade), and told them that the sooner they changed the better.
After they had gone the Sergeant came in about something.
I said nothing, and he said nothing, each of us waiting for the other.
He moved about absolutely silently, and I dared not meet his glance because I knew I should give myself away. The rascal has not been running his eye over young women all these years without being able to spot them in a moment, even in navvy's clothes.
At last I could stand it no longer. "Damn it," I said, "what are you doing? Why don't you go? I didn't send for you." But still I didn't dare look up.
"I thought perhaps you had something to say to me, Sir," he said.
"No, I haven't," I replied. "Why should I? What about?"
"Only about those two young men, Sir," he replied.
"Get out," I said; but before he could go I had burst into laughter.
"Better not mention it," I managed to say.