LADY FOR SHANGHAI

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 August 1939, Page 10

LADY FOR SHANGHAI

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

KAYE FOX

CHAPTER XII (Continued).

“If anything of the same sort happens again." she told them, with a rather scornful little smile, “you shall know all about it."

“And I hope that now we’ve had this little explanation, we shall all be more friendly." Mrs Parr suggested.

Christine whisked off to the bathroom without answering her, for she simply could not respond to these insincere offers of friendship, considering how much she had endured from Mrs Parr and Miss Crane. They were both in bed when she returned, having evidently decided to leave her alone for that night. When she went up to her own section. early next morning, Christine found that there certainly was a rumour that Perrin was to be reported to the head office. Perrin himself was probably the only member of the staff who did not know of it. Arthur Grant was in a state of suppressed glee, and Cator and Edwards, like the two stewardesses, were suddenly extremely friendly. It was almost embarrassing to Christine. She was quite relieved when their arrival at Singapore gave everyone something fresh to think about. Thi: was the first port at which they were to lose any of their passengers, fm none had landed at Penang, and they were kept busy helping the departing passengers to pack up. Christine herself was losing Miss Robins and the mother with two children in number four, and expected to have those two rooms empty until they reached Shanghai, for they seldom took on any extra passengers at Singapore or Hong, Kong. But half-an-hour after the Hay Tor tied up at the wharf, Perrin sent for Grant, who came back soon afterwards looking excited and amused. “I'm to get number four ready,” he told Christine,” and you’ll never guess, if you try from now to sailing time, who’s going to occupy it. Get ready for a shock, Christine.”

“I'm ready,” she said cheerfully “and you can tell me at once, Arthur, for I never was any good at guessing games. Is it a film star? We had one on the Brent once, and all the women on.board went completely crazy about him, thought he looked quite ordinary to me.” “It's somebody a lot more interesting than a film star, Christine- it's Mrs Royde.” “Do you mean to say that Royde i> married?” she gasped. “Must be, for his wife is certainly coming to meet him. You know that we’re crossing the Yes Tor here? Well. Mrs Royde has come from Shanghai on the Yes Tor, because of the trouble there. The agents sent a message L Perrin to have a room .got ready for her."

Christine’s first thought was for Fay. who was so infatuated with Royde that she had refused to believe anything against him, even when the evidence was clear. She’d have to believe now. Christine was convinced that Fay had not the slightest idea that Royde was married, and that, the arrival of his .wife would be a most terrible shock to her.

“Is the Yes Tor here already?" she asked, wondering whether she would have a chance to warn Fay’ before Mrs Royde actually came on board. “Due in an hour. Passengers won't be rushing ashore here, Christine, except those who are leaving us —the news is sure to get round that Mrs Royde is coming, and everyone will be hanging about, hoping to see the meetbetween her and her husband. She's probably one of those sour, grim women—whatever she's like, I'm sorry for her."

Christine was in the port alley-way when Mrs Royde came up with nor husband, followed by Grant carrying her luggage. She was a woman of Royde's own age. not beautiful, but with an air of distinction and quiet dignity, perfectly dressed in pearl greysilk with a big black hat. Her shadowed eyes had a tragic look, as if. when Mrs Royde smiled, the smile never reached those dark eyes. “You are my stewardess?" she said kindly, as she passed Christine. "Could you bring me some tea up here?—just a cup of tea."

Martin Royde glanced quickly a! Christine as he followed his wife into number four. Perhaps, until that moment. he had not realised that she w:i; going to be Mrs Royde's stewardess. When Christine came back witli the tea. he was sitting on the settee, watching Mrs Royde unpack, and talking to her in a rather embarrassed way. but he got up and strolled out of the room, very casually, while Christine was putting down the tray and taking Mr. : Royde's orders about bath lime;:. He was in the alley-way. between Christine and the companion, when she went out. and there was no one else in sight.

"Are you still—-incorruptible. stewardess?" he asked her, taking a wellfilled note case out of his pocket. “I am still quite determined not to take any money from you, for any services. Mr Royde." she said calmly.

"You ought to be put in a museum, stewardess. It is so little that I am asking of you —only a quiet tongue."

"You asked that before. Mr Royde. ami J told you that I would keep silent. fur Fay Lind's salm. Ami [ think I have another reason for silence now."

"And that is?" "Mrs Royde," she said, meeting his eyes.

"To whom you have spoken for about two minutes," he said, in a curiously moved voice. "You're a clever girl, stewardess, and a good one. You're right—Mrs Royde would not be surprised. I am afraid, by that incident at Penang. if you babbled to her

but she would be very badly null. And—she has boon hurt so often." "I will not babble to her." she promised. "but—it's ail over the ship. Mr Royde, not through me. The whole staff knows about it. and sooner or later it is almost bound to reach the passengers."

"If it docs reach my wife. I will believe that it is not through you." he said gravely, and went back into number four.

Christine guessed that Royde dreaded any gossip reaching his wife about himself and Fay, not because she would be angry, but because she would be so badly hurt. He loved his wife, in his fashion.

Later, she saw them going ashore together for the evening, and noticed the odd gentleness of Royde's manner to his wife, so different from the coarse familiarity with which he treated Doria Smythe, or hjs subtly flattering way with Fay. They were talking quietly together as they went down the gangway, and Christine saw Royde stretch out, his hand to adjust the collar of his wife's evening cloak, a natural little gesture which seemed, somehow, to be the symbol of year.of close companionship. It was stifling on board. The ship was coaling, and though canvas screen: covered the windows, shutting out every breath of air, the whole place was gritty with coal dust. Some of the passengers were sleeping ashore in hotels that night, to avoid the dirt and noise of all-night coaling, and the others had all gone ashore for the evening.

Mrs Parr and Miss Crane both happened to have friends in Singapore, and they got permission to go ashore after dinner, on the understanding that for once Christine would attend to their passengers as well as her own—it was most unlikely, really, that anything would be wanted. As soon as they had gone, Christine went along the alley-way to Fay’s room. Fay had not been at dinner in the saloon, Christine knew, for Grant had told her that the only passengers at dinner were a thrifty couple who never missed a meal, even when the ship was in port. If Fay had been in her own room during dinner, Miss Crane ought to have' reported it, but Miss Crane was so busy getting ready to go ashore that she might easily have forgotten to add Fay’s name to the list.

The room was dark, but when Christine turned on the light she saw that Fay was lying on her bed—she flung one arm across her eyes as the light went on. Christine sat down on the edge of the bed and took Fay’s other hand in hers.

“I wish I could have warned you," she said softly. “I wish someone had warned me.' Fay murmured. “Christine-—‘Doria Smythe told me quite suddenly that Mrs Royde was coming on board. I - I don't, think 1 gave myself away. She meant it to be a shock, and it was an awful shock, but I managed to smile, Christine, and say something about Martin's not having told me that Mrs Royde meant to meet him here. I don't think ishe guessed that I dicin’) know—that he was married.” “She must have known herself, all the time," Christine said, "for she and Martin Royde are old friends."

“That's why she thought, I expect, that Martin was trying to trick me in Penang—she didn’t think he could do seriously in love with me. Oh, Christine. why didn't Martin tell me himself? He might have trusted me. He might have known that I'd understand. "That you'd understand—what. Fay?” “Why, that he was tied to a cold, hard woman who meant nothing to him. and that she wasn't free to ask me to marry him., She's at least forty. and not a bit pretty, and she looks so dull. They can't have anything in common."

"Except a good many years of married life. Fay. you've got it all wrong," Christine said, smoothing the fair curls back from Fay's forehead. “You’re just fooling yourself, because you don't want to believe that Martin Royde has been deceiving you all the time. Mrs Royde is my passenger, and she isn't cold and hard and dull —she's a very charming woman. • And her husband loves her.”

"He loves me, Fay cried, silting up abruptly, and n was as though she was trying to convince herself as well as Christine. "I know he loves me. Christine,"

"I don't think that he's in love with you now. dear. He's altered since Mrs Royde came on board.”

"He's hiding his feeling from her. and —oh, Christine, he must bo wondering whether I hale him now that I've found out that he's married. 1 haven't oven seen him. and 1 don't -'appose I shall get a chance of talking io him alone, unless 1 watch out for it. She'll cling to him. she won't, let him out of her sight for a single moment." "Don't try to see him alone." Christine pleaded. "If Martin Royde has anv explanation to make to you. Fay. he'll find a chance of making it. and if he hasn't . . Don't force a scone on him." Fay. still crazily infatuated with Royde. had taken it into her head now that Christine was secretly delighted that all this had happened. It was a relief to her to be angry with someone — since she would not allow herself to be- angry with Royde—and m a few minutes site had worked up a real .grievance against Christine.

"You're still trying to interfere. Christine.' site said pettishly. "H's your fault, in a way, that Martin lias never told me that he was married — thanks to your interference before, we've never been alone together for long, for I've always been afraid that you'd come butting in, as you did the' night we left Port Said. I've always felt litre a child with a nurse in the background." (To be continued.j