I'll find some
way of staying with you."
"I say, do you mean it?" he cried. "After my rudeness?"
"Of course I mean it. It will be fun! I love a fight!"
"And you mean that you really care about me?"
"Of course I care! I believe I'll die if you don't get better," she said
eagerly.
He fumbled in his pockets, lit several matches and put something in her
hand.
"Here it is, look. Thirteen pounds, eight and fivepence."
"What's that for?"
"It's all my money. If I have any I'll be magnetized towards the bar. If
I haven't, it's much safer. And look here, Marcella, if I come and knock
you down with a sledgehammer, don't let me have that money, will you?"
"I won't," she said promptly.
She was thrilled, exhilarated, as they went below after shaking hands
solemnly. She was Siegfried, and the dragon had a pock-marked face, and
each foot had three claws missing. She thought, as she looked through
dream-misted eyes, that the dragon was a very long one, with many legs
and many heads. But she had not the faintest doubt that, in the end, he
would fall to her trusty sword. And she told Louis so at the door of his
cabin as she said good night to him.
Then she turned back to Number 15. She had looked about the deck for
Jimmy, but guessing that he had fallen asleep in his own bunk, pushed
open the door softly.
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