COUSIN LESLIE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20522, 11 June 1938, Page 21 (Supplement)

COUSIN LESLIE

< Continued from lest week) The girl stood for a moment, wonder In her eyes, then she put her head back and began to laugh, and she laughed until the tears came. Then she stopped as suddenly as she began. “Forgive me," she said, wiping her •yes, "but really it's too funny." “Perhaps It Is," said Hamish, "but as you haven't shared the joke, we can't laugh.” "You'll share It all right,” said the girl. "You're waiting for your Cousin Leslie?" she asked. "Yes," said Ronald, "and he doesn't seem to have turned up.” “M« hasn't," said the girl, "but she has. I'm Leslie Rankin—your cousin. What made you think I was a boy?” As Shlela said afterwards: . "We must have looked like four goldfish as we stood there opening and shutting our mouths without any sound coming from them. You could have knocked us all over with a hummingbird’s feather." Elspcth was the first to speak. "We are dreadfully sorry," she said; "It's difficult to explain at the moment, but any Leslie's we have ever known have been boys and —but we ll talk about that later. Welcome to Scarvaig.” She held out her hand, which was warmly grasped, and in turn they all shook hands. "I'll see to your luggage,” said Ronald. "What have you ? "There's two trunks, two suitcases, and this," said Leslie—“this" being a hat-box which she had put down at her feet. "She must be going to stay for a year," said Hamish to Ronald, as they went to see about the luggage. "That was a nice mistake we made, I must •ay." Ronald laughed. "I did feel an tss. But it wasn't really our fault. If Mother's letter hadn't blown over the cliff we'd have known all right. What do you think of her?" Hamish didn't wiste time thinking. “I don't like her." he said, without hesitation. "She's far too superior, and she's skinny, and 111 bet she s scared of walking or climbing or doing any of the things we like. » w' a » bad enough expecting a boy we didn t know, but a girl ...” "There are times," said Ronald, "when you talk the most utter rot." "Mavbe." replied Hamish, "but this Isn’t one of them. Come on. let's see to the luggage." 111. About an hour later Hamish looked across the tea-table at Ronald, and ttrere was meaning in his look. For he had just heard Leslie "wriggling out" las he termed it later of walking across the Island the next day to the Silver sands, and a elimb to the top of Coroskin was also tactfully evaded. , ■ l think I’d rather take it easy, if you don't inind." said Leslie. you "Oh. don't mention it." said Hamish rsther pointedly, in fact, so poinledlv that the visitor Hushed. ' we love lying about—it's so restful, don t you th Elspeth gave him a withering look. •There isn't any need to be rude, '''"Oh it's all right. Elspcth. Im sure Hamish didn't mean to be rude. ■aid Leslie. Then to the consternation of everybodv. llamis!, g..t to his feet shouted "Yes 1 did!" and stalked out of the room’, and out of |he house. gheiia made to follow him. thou.... better of It. and «if down again Everybody was horn! »' embarrassed. -I don't know what to -i> sald t-is P eth. "I've never known Hamish to behave like this before. We re at. dreadfully sorry. Leslie, and I apola pise for my brother s nnleneus I ho c vou'll forgive him. 1 know lie hi very sorry." Leslie had recovered from her sin - prise, and laughed. ' I 'on I ’"""> • any of you. He'll he all rml. when be returns. Perhaps lie - d.rsp,, >mte,: about n.v not wanting In tramp o. cilmb to morrow, but—- •• Sot another word, said Ronald, “you just please v nirself. Leslie. 11l •alk to th* young cub. It a niurii Hamish who apologised to Leslie the following morning for she had g"n*' 11 . l fh ugh by adn> tied that I e had been unpardonable rude His apolog; whs ae.-. pled graciously, and the incident -cru c,j closed. Bui during the next few days

By ENID BARCLAY

he was polite in a studied way, and it was obvious that Hamish did not like his cousin, although she seemed to go out of her way to be nice to him. The weather had been rather boisterous for the first few days of Leslie's stay, and bathing had been out of the question. Suddenly it changed, and the fifth morning broke fair. “Let's bathe today," said Elspeth after breakfast. Leslie hesitated. “If you don’t mind. I’ll not bathe, but I'll come down with you. I'll put on my bathing costume and lie in tite sun while you folks are swimming.’’ It was unfortunate that she should look in Hamish's direction as she said this, for she caught his contemptuous look, and it hurt. However, he said nothing at the time, but as she passed through the hall later on her way to her room to change into her costume, site overheard him remark to Ronald: Til tell you. she's a poor, creature. She's even scared to bathe.” “Oh. dry up.” she heard Ronald reply. “She probably can't swim and doesn't want to come in with us, which is quite natural; Be fair. She’s really a decent sort." She heard no more, as they passed out of earshot. The bathing place was a little cove where the shore sloped suddenly, making the cove a deep pool when the tide was in. Almost at the entrance to the cove was a high rock, flat on the top, which made an ideal diving platform, for those who cared to dive from such a height. Actually, Hamish was the only one who was really keen on high diving, and to-day h< m ide straight t<»r the rock, poised, and flashed down into the sea. Leslie stood on the shore for a little watching the others, then made her way to the top of the rock, which seemed an ideal spot on which to sun-bathe. Hamish decided to attempt something lie had not done before —stand on his hands at the edge of the rock, and slowly turn over, pushing himself off. It was only when he put his hands on the edge, and prepared to throw his feet In the air that he saw it wasn’t going to be so easy. Had Leslie not been there he would have given up the idea —In fact, he was on the point of doing so, when she said: "I’m afraid that’s too risky, Hamish. Better not try It.”

” Not a bit of it,” he replied, with a touch of bravado. " It’s quite easy.” And with that he put his hands down, pushed his feet into the air, and stood like that for a second. Then a dreadful thing happened. One arm gave way, his hand slipped over the edge, and h* fell outwards, his head hitting the edge of the rock as he turned over. There was a cry of horror from the others on the shore who had been watching him, and as he hit the water they dashed in. swimming furiously towards th* place whore he had fa 1 - lon. But long before they could reach the spot there was a flash of blue, and a splash, as Leslie dived from the rock, dived beautifully and cleanly, as only an expert can. In a few’ seconds she came to the surface, supporting the unconscious form of Hamish, who was bleedins from a nasty wound In the head. With the assistance of the others he was soon brought to the shore, and it was not long before he opened his eyes. The first thing he was was Leslie, wet from her swim, her hair hanging dankly, and at that moment he reai'i-ed that she had dived in after him. He put out his hand. “ I say. Leslie.’’ he began, but she turned and ran towards her wrap, and dashed for the house. About an hour later. Hamish, his head bandaged, but really little the wors - idventure. came into the room where the others were sitting. He went straight to Leslie, held out his hand, and said: "Leslie, Tve been a pig to you. Will you forgive m*'. although T don’t deserve it?" Sh* grasped his hand and shook it warmly “Of course, 1 do. Lot's f. ?e*’t if. How are you feeling now?" - fin all rich!." li* said. " 1 hope you’re non** the wors*. Will you tel! m* two things. Why wouldn’t you bath* with us to-day? It Isn’t that you r* seared of th* s*a. as I thought yoij w*re. because you div*d in after ip*. \nd why did you bolt when I tri*d »o thank you?" • Well, you >*e. I'm not supposed to *\*rf n : >*lf Just now-. I'm Just recovering from an appendix operation.

It really wasn’t very brave of me to dive in after you because—well—l'm rather a crack swimmer and diver—" “ She's a champion," broke in ‘Sheila; "she’s got cups and medals." “And,” continued Leslie, “I ran away because I felt I was going to blub, and I really am a funk about blubbing in public." “ You can blub as much a-s you like in public," said Hamish, " and if anybody says you shouldn’t, I'll deal with them." " And that's that! " said Sheila. “ As I have remarked before, every cloud has a silver Jin—" But a well-aimed cushion, which had no silver lining, brought that quotation to an abrupt close. (THE END.)