Joe Wilson and His Mates [15]
and die just by thinking of it -- and die with his eyes and mouth shut.
But then I remembered that I wouldn't make a beautiful corpse, anyway it went,
with the face I had on me.
I was just getting comfortably miserable when I heard a step behind me,
and my heart gave a jump. And I gave a start too.
`Oh, is that you, Mr Wilson?' said a timid little voice.
`Yes,' I said. `Is that you, Mary?'
And she said yes. It was the first time I called her Mary,
but she did not seem to notice it.
`Did I frighten you?' I asked.
`No -- yes -- just a little,' she said. `I didn't know
there was any one ----' then she stopped.
`Why aren't you dancing?' I asked her.
`Oh, I'm tired,' she said. `It was too hot in the wool-shed. I thought
I'd like to come out and get my head cool and be quiet a little while.'
`Yes,' I said, `it must be hot in the wool-shed.'
She stood looking out over the willows. Presently she said,
`It must be very dull for you, Mr Wilson -- you must feel lonely.
Mr Barnes said ----' Then she gave a little gasp and stopped --
as if she was just going to put her foot in it.
`How beautiful the moonlight looks on the willows!' she said.
`Yes,' I said, `doesn't it? Supposing we have a stroll by the river.'
`Oh, thank you, Mr Wilson. I'd like it very much.'
I didn't notice it then, but, now I come to think of it,
it was a beautiful scene: there was a horseshoe of high blue hills
round behind the house, with the river running round under the slopes,
and in front was a rounded hill covered with pines, and pine ridges,
and a soft blue peak away over the ridges ever so far in the distance.
I had a handkerchief over the worst of my face, and kept the best side
turned to her. We walked down by the river, and didn't say anything
for a good while. I was thinking hard. We came to a white smooth log
in a quiet place out of sight of the house.
`Suppose we sit down for a while, Mary,' I said.
`If you like, Mr Wilson,' she said.
There was about a foot of log between us.
`What a beautiful night!' she said.
`Yes,' I said, `isn't it?'
Presently she said, `I suppose you know I'm going away next month, Mr Wilson?'
I felt suddenly empty. `No,' I said, `I didn't know that.'
`Yes,' she said, `I thought you knew. I'm going to try and get
into the hospital to be trained for a nurse, and if that doesn't come off
I'll get a place as assistant public-school teacher.'
We didn't say anything for a good while.
`I suppose you won't be sorry to go, Miss Brand?' I said.
`I -- I don't know,' she said. `Everybody's been so kind to me here.'
She sat looking straight before her, and I fancied her eyes glistened.
I put my arm round her shoulders, but she didn't seem to notice it.
In fact, I scarcely noticed it myself at the time.
`So you think you'll be sorry to go away?' I said.
`Yes, Mr Wilson. I suppose I'll fret for a while. It's been my home,
you know.'
I pressed my hand on her shoulder, just a little, so as she couldn't pretend
not to know it was there. But she didn't seem to notice.
`Ah, well,' I said, `I suppose I'll be on the wallaby again next week.'
`Will you, Mr Wilson?' she said. Her voice seemed very soft.
I slipped my arm round her waist, under her arm. My heart was going
like clockwork now.
Presently she said --
`Don't you think it's time to go back now, Mr Wilson?'
`Oh, there's plenty of time!' I said. I shifted up, and put my arm
farther round, and held her closer. She sat straight up,
looking right in front of her, but she began to breathe hard.
`Mary,' I said.
`Yes,' she said.
`Call me Joe,' I said.
`I -- I don't like to,' she said. `I don't think it would be right.'
So I just turned her face round and kissed her. She clung to me and cried.
`What is it, Mary?' I asked.
She only held me tighter and cried.
`What is it, Mary?' I said. `Ain't you well? Ain't you happy?'
`Yes, Joe,' she said, `I'm very happy.' Then she said, `Oh, your poor face!
Can't I do anything