"
"There now," said Miss King. "I knew you were only making excuses, Mr.
Meldon."
"I was," said Meldon. "I may as well own up to it that I was. My real
reason for not wishing you to come with us--"
He edged over to where Simpkins was sitting, and kicked him sharply in
the ribs. It was, after all, Simpkins' business to make some effort to
retain Miss King.
"My real reason," he said, "though I didn't like to mention it before,
is that there's a dead sheep on the other side of the island, just
above the lobster bed. It's a good deal decayed, and the sea-gulls
have been picking at it."
Miss King shuddered.
"Is there a dead sheep, Major Kent?" she asked.
"I don't know," said the Major. "I haven't been on this island for
years; and I don't believe you have either, J. J."
"Dr. O'Donoghue told me about it yesterday," said Meldon. "He said it
was a most disgusting sight. I don't think you'd like it, Miss King.
I don't like telling you about it. I'm sure a glance at it would upset
you again--after this morning, you know."
Miss King was evidently annoyed by this allusion to her sea sickness,
but she was not inclined to give up her walk.
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