"Are we or are we not going to eat anything to-night?"
"You may eat without me," I called out in a clear voice. "I do not need
any food."
"The devil you don't!" There was a pause.
"But--What on earth is the matter with you, my dear girl. Of course you
must eat--what's the matter? Are you angry about anything?--Damn it!
what kind of behaviour is this? Open the door."
"I do not intend to open the door, Maurice, until--I have come to a
decision. You had better go away and not waste your breath speaking to
me."
He wasted a good deal more breath, however, before he went away. The
next sound was the pop of a champagne cork hitting the ceiling, and the
little water-fall rush of wine into a glass. Afterwards the boy was
roughly and loudly told to "_Hambeela_ and get out." Later a knife and
fork clattered on plates, and there were more pops and water-fall
rushes. At length a silence. The scent of a cigarette crept into the
room.
"What now?" I wondered dully. Having finished considering the problem
of the future with my reflection, I went and sat on the large white bed
which no longer had any terrors for me. I heard the front door being
locked, then steps across the room to my door once more.
"Is this a game, Deirdre?"