1936-12-09 — Page 18

CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT

HONEYMOON

By Richard Sherman

LAVERY evening it was the

EVERY ning in the ship

was a ghost-ship, creaking and pitching and throbbing, and the reverberating echo of the pre- dinner gong Kas like some So aboriginal mourning wail

hour, while it was for half an

and the

dressed; passengers then, gradually. the decks and public rooms awoke. For on the S.S. Regino, life began at seven-

forty.

It was at seven-forty also that the Greshams were wont to meet Isobel Ferris in the bar for cocktails. They made a point of meeting her, not only because they were sorry for her, but be-- cause she was their table-mate, and by their own request. "Put- us with a bridal couple." Chloe had pleaded with the dining- steward. "We've been married four years, and we'd like to see if they're still turning them out

old the in

pattern." Whereupon the steward, smiling the smile of a fellow-conspirator, had run an enquiring pencil down' his list and said: "I'll put you with Ferris-Mr. and Mrs. Juhn Ferris, of London. Yes?"*

same

"An English bridal couple!” Chloe had exclaimed. "That'll be fine. It'll be sort of an ex- periment to find out if they act human." Two of their six weeks' vacation had been spent in Eng land. and Chloe hadn't particu- larly liked it.

"They won't, replied Walter, who had liked England even less than Chloe. "They probably don't even speak to each other." And furthermore they didn't at least not in the Greshams' heartless to presence! It was laugh; it was the token of a vulgar mentality and a perverted sense of humour; but--it was a joke, after all.... Their inter- est had been aroused when no one had appeared to claim the two vacant chairs at breakfast Chloe, and at luncheon; elevating her eyebrows in polite scepticism, had said: "So they other, you don't speak to each psychologist! Looks to me as if

Of

they don't even want to see any- body else, they're that enraptur- ed."

"You wait," advised Walter. "Love's dream can't last for- ever."

And so, curiously, they had waited. with

Chloe laying a modest bet that no one would show up for dinner either. She collect her was just about to winnings that evening when, as they were starting on the soup. one of the chairs opposite was drawn back, and some one sat down a rather beautiful girl with great dark eyes and lovely shoulders. Walter's knee nudged Chloe's with a pressure that meant. "Pardon me, but I believe me fifty cents." then you owe "nudged again with another pres- sure that signified: "She is what I personally, would term a looker." After which, he pro- ceeded to introduce himself.

18

It was obvious from the begin- ning that the girl was with themi in the flesh only; for as she spoke, with a shy reserve at first, her glance kept straying to the empty plate beside her. She was also, as her accent informed American they them, as themselves were.

All through that long meal they chatted of the choppy sea, of the weather, of almost every-. thing, in fact, except the miss- ing spouse. By degrees it came out that the girl had made this same passages eastbound, only à month ago; that she lived in Chicago, that she hated what lit- tle she had seen of England (there was a bond!) Yet nothing else came out; and at last Chloe, the

said woman desperate. brightly: "The steward tells us this is your wedding journey.”.

The girl lowered her eyelashes shyly; not coyly, but shyly. "Yes," she said. "We were mar- ried three weeks ago at Oxford. where my husband was doing postgraduate work. and we're going home."

now

There was a waiting silence after that, during which Chloe's enquiring eyes asked: "Al

right, lady, where is he. then? Don't tell me you've reached the parting of the ways already."

And even more shyly, the girl spoke, as ff in answer to the unput question. "Jack, my hus hand, is-she flushed defensive- ly-"is seasickTM

That was at dessert. and it was then that Chloe's features congealed in rigid self-suppres- sion. not to relax until she had gained the seclusion of the cabin and lay helpless in her own merriment.

"Seasickness is not essentially

a humorous ailment." reproved Walter. "as you would realise if you'd been born with anything besides the constitution of an ox --though a very charming or I grant. I was seasick once." be said. shuddering, "and that man has my deepest sympathy. Even." and then his own lips began to twitch suspiciously. "even if he is a bridegroom."

"A seasick bride." giggled Chloe. "is bad enough, although of course she can act flowerlike in the Elizabeth Barrett Brown- ing manner. But a seasick bridegroom! Oh!" And then, with an effort, she sat erect and wiped her eyes. "I'm terrible." she acknowledged. "For penance I intend to be very nice to her." Both of them were nice to her, because they liked her. Together they went to the movies, gazed at the stars"Jack asks about the stars, confided Mrs. Ferris blushing and promenad- ed the deck while the music from the ballroom floated past them to lose itself in the inky depths of the Atlantic ocean,

me

eren

She would not dance. with Walter. "Jack wants me to have a good time," she ex- plained, "but somehow it doesn't seem quite right for me to dance when he's down there alone."

"I think," argued Chloe. "that you're devoted enough to him as it is never even coming up on deck until evening. If you will forgive an old wife's tale." she said, "that man Sounds

to me

like Eluebeard. The idea is to break them in at once, you know. Don't dally."

Mrs. Ferris' face was dreamy. You don't "No, no." she said.

He's- understand Jack at all. he's wonderful."

Chloe, the years have dulled your sensibilities," Walter point- ed out when they were alone; "but there was a time when even you paid some attention to your husband's whims. Myself, I re- gard Mrs. Ferris' attitude as very touching. Slightly idealis tic. perhaps, but distinctly touching."

"And 1." retorted Chloe. "think it's silly. If you should ask me, I believe I'm taking a

dislike to Mr. strong

Jack Ferris."

"Anyone who supplies his wife with a fresh orchid every night is not," he observed, "en- tirely devoid of tenderness.”

She "Orchids!"

shrugged. "What's an orchid after seven, when you've had to be cooped up all day in a stuffy cabin, like a paid nurse, in order to earn it?”

L

Every evening they inquired solicitously concerning the in- valid's health-Walter with the whom genuine anxiety of one lightning has struck once and may strike again. Chloe with a touch of irony; and every even- ing Mrs. Ferris gave them her report. "He's a little better to- day. Perhaps he can come up on deck to-morrow if it's calmer.". But to-morrow never was calmer -it was merely worse: and so

he still remained below.

Yet wherever they might go, Jack Ferris was always with them. He joined them in the bar when his wife ordered Daiquiris: "You see. Jack never drinks any other kind of cocktail." She must buy keño boards in order that she might play one of them for each dime she inserted in the slot- machine, another accompanied it immediately, for Jack." She even purchased two tickets to the ship's concert, "because Jack told me to," and they sat throughout the performance with the unused chair next to them.

The thought occurred to Chloe first. "Maybe my dramatic sense is running away with me.” she said hesitantly, "but what if what if he's tired of her al- ready, and sends her up each evening just to get rid of her? Idolatry can be well,

2 bit boring." She smiled nervously. "Goodness," she said, "wouldn't that be funny?"

Yes, agreed Walter. after a pause, that certainly would be a scream. wouldn't it? Meanwhile, suppose she gave her imagina- tion a rest for a while; appar- ently it needed one.

And then looking at each other, they knew that their minds had met.

.

"Oh. Walter," she said softly, "I couldn't bear that. She loves him so."

ཟ

"Shut up, my dear," he said, “Shut up."

HE And now, now in the re- awakened activity of the cocktail hour, they sat in the bar on the last night out, awaiting Mrs. Ferris and her orchid. "Re- member the orchid," Chloe com- forted herself. "He wouldn't give her an orchid if he didn't love her, would he? Or, would he?") They also awaited the newest specimen of what was one of the most elaborate trous- seaux they had ever seen. When it came. it proved to be the crowning glory of the lot a white lace gown that could have been selected with only one goal in view: the captain's dinner.". Seeing her, Chloe's heart lifted: surely no man, could tire of a woman as beautiful as that.

Mrs. Ferris was

gay that evening-gay when she arrived, gayer when they left to proceed down to the dining-salon; and at the table she donned her paper hat with the rest of them, al- though whereas

those crepe buffooneries made the other wo- men look either ridiculous of pathetic, hers merely enhanced her charm. The waiter pre- (Continued on Page 28)