‘John Lyle, come here and sit down. Sit down by me.’ She sat on the sand and patted the place by her-and such was the firmness with which she spoke that I did as I was told.
‘By me,’ she insisted. ‘Come closer. I don’t want to shout.’ I inched gingerly closer until my sleeve brushed her bare arm. ‘That’s better,’ she agreed, keeping her voice low so that it did not resound around the cavern. ‘Now listen to me. There are two people down there, of their own free will. They are entirely safe-I saw them. And they are both excellent swimmers. The thing for you to do, John Lyle, is to mind your own business and restrain that nasty itch to interfere.’
‘I’m afraid I don’t understand you.’ Truthfully, I was afraid I did.
‘Oh, goodness me! See here, does Miriam mean anything to you?’
‘Why, no, not especially.’
‘I should think not, since you haven’t addressed six words to her since we started out. Very well, then-since you have no cause to be jealous, if two people choose to be alone, why should you stick your nose in? Understand me now?’
‘Uh, I guess so.’
‘Then just be quiet.’
I was quiet. She didn’t move. I was actually aware of her nakedness-for now she was naked, though covered-and I hoped that she was not aware that I was aware. Besides that I was acutely aware of being almost a participant in-well, I don’t know what. I told myself angrily that I had no right to assume the worst, like a morals proctor.
Presently I said, ‘Maggie. .
‘Yes, John?’
‘I don’t understand you.’
‘Why not, John? Not that it is really needful.’
‘Uh, you don’t seem to give a hoot that Zeb is down there, with Miriam-alone.’
‘Should I give a hoot?’
Confound the woman! She was deliberately misunderstanding me. ‘Well . . . look, somehow I had gotten the impression that you and Zeb-I mean.. . well, I suppose I sort of expected that you two meant to get married, when you could.’
She laughed a low chuckle that had little mirth in it. ‘I suppose you could have gotten that impression. But, believe me, the matter is all settled and for the best.’
‘Huh?’
‘Don’t misunderstand me. I am very fond of Zebadiah and I know he is equally fond of me. But we are both dominant types psychologically-you should see my profile chart; it looks like the Rocky Mountains! Two such people should not marry. Such marriages are not made in Heaven, believe me! Fortunately we found it out in time.’
‘Oh.’
‘Oh, indeed.’
Now I don’t know just how the next thing happened. I was thinking that she seemed rather forlorn-and the next thing I knew I was kissing her. She lay back in my arms and returned the kiss with a fervor I would not have believed possible. As for me, my head was buzzing and my eyeballs were knocking together and I couldn’t have told you whether I was a thousand feet underground or on dress parade.
Then it was over. She looked up for a bare moment into my eyes and whispered, ‘Dear John . . . ‘ Then she got suddenly to her feet, leaned over me, careless of the towel, and patted my cheek. ‘Judith is a very lucky girl. I wonder if she knows it.’
‘Maggie!’ I said.
She turned away and said, without looking back. ‘I really must finish dressing. I’m cold.’
She had not felt cold to me.
She came out shortly, fully dressed and toweling her hair vigorously. I got my dry towel and helped her. I don’t believe I suggested it; the idea just took care of itself. Her hair was thick and lovely and I enjoyed doing it. It sent goose pimples over me.
Zeb and Miriam came back while I was doing so, not racing but swimming slowly; we could hear them laughing long before they were in sight. Miriam climbed out of the water as shamelessly as any harlot of Gomorrah, but I hardly noticed her. Zeb looked me in the eye and said aggressively, ‘Ready for your swim, chum?’
I started to say that I did not believe that I would bother and was going to make some excuse about my towel already being wet-when I noticed Maggie watching me. . . not saying anything but watching. I answered, ‘Why, surely! You two took long enough.’ I called out, ‘Miriam! Get out from behind that rock! I want to use it.’