1935-12-17 — Page 20

CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT

UNCONDITIONAL

SURRENDER

S the giant liner Strathavon ploughed its way through the sparkling blue waters of the Indian Ocean, Arthur and Cecily Grant-returning from a holiday in Ceylon-reclined, in long chairs in a secluded corner of one of the spacious decks; revel- ling in the luxurious inaction of the moment. Their mutual silence denoting perfect understanding and comradeship.

Arthur, having, succumbed to the soothing motion of the ship, dozed

Cecily, not having arrived at that blissful state, remained halfway between slumber and wakefulness; a condition wherein the mind goes wandering wherever it will Dreamily, events doated through her mind from the present, right back through the six happy years of her marriage with Arthur. Back to the days of their engagement and the one jarring note that had been struck to interfere with the harmony of their romance by Arthur's father. A note of disapproval at his son's choice; when Cecily had been so eager for approval

How disappointed she had beer.

General Grant, a peppery old man of uncertain temperament a state brought about, no doubt, by the bot curries indulged in, to the detriment of his lines, whilst commanding various regiments in Ladia, over a period of many years-or so Cecily concluded- had taken a dislike to her from the beginning.

To the General, any member of the fair sex who rouged her lips and smoked must necessarily belong to a type-well! not to be desired as the wife of his only son. Cecily rouged and smok- ed; therefore he had been at no pains to hide his disapproval

of her.

Had he chosen to study her, the General would have very quickly reversed his bigoted opinion, for Cecily was, apart from her attractive appearance, essentially weil balanced

Deep blue eyes, dark wavy hair, and carmine lips, added to a slender figure, are not necessarily the attributes of an empty mind; therefore, wheà General Grant toid his son he was marry- ing an empty-headed butterfly, Cecily felt very hurt and dis- appointed. She told Arthur she never wanted to see his father again. Fortunately, as he left for New Zealand soon after the wedding, she was spared the unpleasantness that would have been caused by having him at closer quarters

As that had happened six years ago, Cecily seldom brought it to mind. But, strange to say, it was indirectly the cause of a more unpleasant episode which had its beginning when Cecily's reflections and Arthur's doze were interrupted by the advent of a deck steward with a radiogram for Arthur. The message, which was from his sister in Sydney, ran:-

"Marriage taking place twenty-fifth Jandary. Sailing London- twenty-sixth. Father arriving next week. Jill"

"Rather sudden," remarked Arthur. "Paul must have re- ceived his transfer sooner than he expected.”

"Why, what's the matter?" Arthur, looking up, caught the expression of distaste on Cecily's face.

"I wish your father were not going to be at the wedding.” "Why?" asked Arthur.

"Because it will spoil it for me."

"But it is not your wedding, dear, so how can it make any difference to you?"

"I had hoped never to see him again, and now. I shall, that is what I mean," was Cecily's somewhat untactful, retort. “

"Really, Cecily." Arthur was a little_up in arms at her reply. "You seem to forget it is my father you are talking about. Even if you don't like him I am still fond of him.”.

***Well, I am not." She was a little-piqued-at-his rebuff, and her tone conveyed the fact to him.

"All the same, I hope you will speak to him at Jill's wedding. Why continue to remember an episode after six years?”

"Six years, or sixty, it is all the same to me," blazed Cecily.

- Doreen Suttie

"I do not forget an insult as easily as you think. Almost saying I was not suitable to be his son's wife. Why, I would sooner die than speak to a man like that. Surely I am capable of judging for myself whether I shall do so or not” Cecily suddenly felt disappointed-in-her-husband. It seemed, perhaps "unreasonable, as though it did not mean anything to him, that she should have had this hurt. He should have been hurt with her. Instead, here. he was thoroughly angry with her.

"Cecily, don't forget you are now a Grant, and I do not want you to cause any unpleasantness at a family affair."

A slight-pause ensued. during which Cecily remained silent, her lips pressed frmly together.

"Well," saapped Arthur suddenly, “are you going to speak to him at the wedding or not?"

"I am not." Cecily snapped back.

"Then you will not be speaking to me either," was the reply.

Don't you think it is rather unreasonable of you to take that attitude? It cannot make the slightest difference to you, the wedding, or anything else, by not speaking to your father. After all." she continued, “I still have my individuality. Why should I lose it in speaking to a rude old man I dislike because I am married to you, and he happens to be your father?"

"That is not the point" Arthur's voice took on a professional tone. "He is the head of the house, and should be treated as such." "I don't care two hoots for the head of the house," snapped Cecily, thoroughly exasperated and upset; her price by now well up in arms. "You have no consideration for me at all, your wife."

She turned her back hurriedly to hide the tears which refused to be blinked away, and Arthur strode off.

Of course, she tried to convince herself-it did not matter-in- the least that Arthur should put his father first. But, if he were going to turn out to be anything like his father-which he showed- distinct signs of doing at this very moment-well; it was too horrible to contemplate, so she gave herself a severe mental shake, and decided to go up on to the sports deck to see if she could get a game of tennis.

The first person she met was Austin Kerry, a man of about --thirty-eight, who had joined the ship at Colombo. He promptly challenged her to a "singles"; and so when Arthur strolled-up some time later his temper was not at all improved by the sight of Cecily engrossed in the game with Kerry. There was some- thing indefinable about him Arthur did not like. Perhaps it may have been that he was a shade too well dressed; danced a little too well; spoke a little too precisely; and had eyes a little too close together. But, whatever it was, Arthur judged there was something about him not quite as it should be. To. Cecily, how- ever, not being a student of psychology, these small facts passed unnoticed. And Kerry was quite contented it should be so.

Later, when the dressing gong sounded, and Cecily went "down" to the cabin, she noticed with an unpleasant start Arthur was already dressed and up on deck. She went into dinner alone. Afterwards there was dancing. And when Cecily allowed Kerry to monopolise her for the rest of the evening, he became almost bewildered at the change in her, deciding there and then it would not be his fault if this did not develop into an interesting little affair.

Arthur retired to the smoke-room in a towering rage, and spent the evening drinking and losing at bridge, neither of which was conducive to the improving of his temper. Consequently it was just as well, when he finally reached the cabin, that Cecily was already in bed and apparently asleep. In reality, she was wide awake, but Arthur did not know it; hoping, on the one hand, he would wake her up, and they would be friends again; and fearing on the other, he would not. The latter feeling pre-

dominated So she was not surprised when he put out the light without having so much as looked at her-this she could see out of one eye, which was open just enough to watch him.

Next morning, things were just the same. Arthur was ар and dressed before Cecily was even awake.

Eleven o'clock found her sitting in her deck-chair trying to read.

But somehow the book she had found so absorbing the day before held no interest for her to-day. It seemed irrelevant to her mood. So, dreamily, she began to watch the rise and fall Fer of the ship as it responded to the swell of the ocean. thoughts strayed to Arthur. Perhaps she had been a little untactful in what she had said. If he came anywhere near she would call him over and say something nice. For, sitting watch- ing that blue sky mingle with that infinite expanse of dazzling ocean, zo close... it seemed

bear ill-will towards anyone

to God; one simply could not one loved.

A step aroused Cecily from her meditations, almost as if in answer to her unspoken desire for his appearance Arthur ap proached her chair. His words, however, rapidly dispelled any feeling she had had towards a reconciliation. (Continued on Page 26.)