She vanished.
"What a mercy, Pat, we have far-sighted friends," said I. "Lenz hastily stowed a pretty heavy parcel into the car this morning as we were leaving.
Let's have a look what's in it."
I fetched the parcel from the car.
It was a small case with two bottles of rum, one bottle of cognac and one of port.
I held them up.
"St. James rum, too!
You can trust the boys."
I uncorked the bottles and poured Pat a good dose into the tea.
As I did so I saw that her hands were trembling.
"Are you really as cold as all that?" I asked.
"It's only momentary.
It's better already.
The rum is good. But I'll go to bed soon." "Go at once, Pat," said I. "Then we can push up the table and eat that way."
She let herself be persuaded.
I brought her an extra blanket from my bed and pushed the table into position.
"Perhaps you would like a real grog, Pat?
That is better still.
I can make one quite quickly."
She shook her head.
"I feel well again already."
I glanced at her.
She actually did look better.
Her eyes had their shine again, her lips were very red and her skin glowed softly.
"Incredible how quick it goes," said I. "That's the rum, sure."
She smiled.
"It is the bed, too, Robby.
I recover much better in bed.
That is my refuge."
"Extraordinary.
I would go mad if I had to go to bed as early.
Alone, I mean."
She laughed.
"For a woman it is different."
"Don't say for a woman.
You are not a woman."
"What am I then?"
"I don't know.
But not a woman.
If you were a proper, normal woman, I would not be able to love you."
She looked at me.
"Can you love, anyway?"
"Well," said I, "that's a nice one at suppertime.
Have you got any more questions like that?"
"Perhaps.
But what about this one?"
I poured myself a glass of rum.
"Pros't, Pat!
Maybe you are right.
Perhaps none of us can.