The Adventures of Sally
Page 44
The telephone-bell in Sally's little sitting-room was ringing jerkilyas she let herself in at the front door. She guessed who it was at theother end of the wire, and the noise of the bell sounded to her like thevoice of a friend in distress crying for help. Without stopping toclose the door, she ran to the table and unhooked the receiver. Muffled,plaintive sounds were coming over the wire.
"Hullo... Hullo... I say... Hullo..."
"Hullo, Ginger," said Sally quietly.
An ejaculation that was half a shout and half gurgle answered her.
"Sally! Is that you?"
"Yes, here I am, Ginger."
"I've been trying to get you for ages."
"I've only just come in. I walked home."
There was a pause.
"Hullo."
"Yes?"
"Well, I mean..." Ginger seemed to be finding his usual difficulty inexpressing himself. "About that, you know. What you said."
"Yes?" said Sally, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
"You said..." Again Ginger's vocabulary failed him. "You said you lovedme."
"Yes," said Sally simply.
Another odd sound floated over the wire, and there was a moment ofsilence before Ginger found himself able to resume.
"I... I... Well, we can talk about that when we meet. I mean, it's nogood trying to say what I think over the 'phone, I'm sort of knockedout. I never dreamed... But, I say, what did you mean about Bruce?"
"I told you, I told you." Sally's face was twisted and the receivershook in her hand. "I've made a fool of myself. I never realized... Andnow it's too late."
"Good God!" Ginger's voice rose in a sharp wail. "You can't mean youreally... You don't seriously intend to marry the man?"
"I must. I've promised."
"But, good heavens..."
"It's no good. I must."
"But the man's a blighter!"
"I can't break my word."
"I never heard such rot," said Ginger vehemently. "Of course you can. Agirl isn't expected..."
"I can't, Ginger dear, I really can't."
"But look here..."
"It's really no good talking about it any more, really it isn't... Whereare you staying to-night?"
"Staying? Me? At the Plaza. But look here..."
Sally found herself laughing weakly.
"At the Plaza! Oh, Ginger, you really do want somebody to look afteryou. Squandering your pennies like that... Well, don't talk any morenow. It's so late and I'm so tired. I'll come and see you to-morrow.Good night."
She hung up the receiver quickly, to cut short a fresh outburst ofprotest. And as she turned away a voice spoke behind her.
"Sally!"
Gerald Foster was standing in the doorway.
CHAPTER XVII. SALLY LAYS A GHOST
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