Spirit Of Atlantis. Anne Mather

than thinking up an excuse, but she knew better than to suppose Pam was that easily satisfied. She read her letter while Pam went to see about the meal, but when the salad and freshly baked rolls were set before them, the older girl returned to the attack.

      ‘You’ve seen Dan Prescott again, haven’t you?’ she remarked perceptively. ‘Did he make those bruises on your arms?’

      Julie crossed her arms across her chest, selfconsciously covering the revealing marks just below her shoulders with her fingers. She had been going to pass them off as the result of a fall she had had in the woods, but when Pam made so forthright a statement, she found it impossible to lie with conviction.

      ‘He was down at the lake,’ she admitted, avoiding Pam’s indignant gaze. ‘And that’s all I’m going to say about it.’

      Pam shook her head. ‘The brute!’ she exclaimed with feeling. ‘I only hope David doesn’t notice, or he’ll blame me for encouraging you.’

      Julie sighed. ‘Pam—please, forget it. It’s not important—’

      ‘I disagree. If he thinks he can—’

      ‘Pam, it wasn’t like that.’ Julie could not in all honesty allow her friend to go on imagining the worst. ‘He wasn’t—violent.’ She paused, wishing she had never admitted anything. ‘I—I bruise easily, that’s all.’

      ‘So what happened?’

      Pam was all ears, ignoring completely what the other girl had said earlier, but Julie refused to discuss it. ‘I’ll take Brad into Midland this afternoon,’ she said instead, deliberately changing the subject. ‘If he still wants to go, that is.’

      Pam was silent for a few minutes, and then she conceded defeat. ‘Oh, he still wants to go,’ she agreed offhandedly. ‘He’s looking forward to you treating him to one of those enormous sundaes at the ice-cream parlour. He wouldn’t miss that!’

      Julie forced a smile. ‘I know how he feels. I shall miss them myself when I go home.’

      Pam glanced quickly at her. ‘You’re not thinking of going home yet, though.’

      Julie hesitated. ‘Well—yes, actually I am. I thought perhaps—at the end of next week—’

      ‘The end of next week!’ Pam put down her fork and stared at her. ‘Julie, you can’t be serious! Why, we’re expecting you to stay at least until August!’

      Julie bent her head, resting her elbow on the edge of the table and cupping one pink-tinted cheek in her hand. ‘I’ve loved being here, Pam, you know that,’ she said uncomfortably, ‘but all holidays must come to an end, and I think six weeks is enough, don’t you?’

      ‘Not really.’ Pam was brusque. ‘David and I have discussed this, and we feel three months might be long enough for you to get over everything you’ve been through. Julie, don’t be in too much of a hurry to get back. Remember what you left behind.’

      ‘I do remember, Pam—’

      ‘What is it? Is it Adam? Is he urging you to go back? Is that what his letter says?’

      ‘No. No. At least, not intentionally. He misses me, of course—’

      ‘Then invite him out here,’ said Pam abruptly. ‘Ask him to come and stay for a couple of weeks. He has holidays, I suppose. Doesn’t he?’

      Julie’s brow was furrowed. ‘Well, yes, but—’

      ‘But what? Isn’t the Kawana good enough for him?’

      ‘Don’t be silly, Pam.’ Julie sighed. ‘It’s not that. I—I just don’t know whether he’d come. He—well, he doesn’t like America.’

      ‘This isn’t America.’

      ‘Well, North America, then.’ Julie’s flush deepened. ‘I don’t know, Pam, honestly …’

      ‘Invite him. See what he says. At least that way we’d get to keep you a little bit longer.’

      ‘Oh, Pam!’ Julie stretched out her hand and gripped the older girl’s arm. ‘You’ve been so kind to me …’

      ‘And I want to go on being kind,’ declared Pam shortly. ‘You know what I think? I think you’re letting this—this affair with Dan Prescott frighten you away.’ She paused, watching Julie’s expressive face intently. ‘I’m right, aren’t I? That’s really what decided you to go.’

      ‘No!’ Julie could not allow her to think that. ‘I—well, I have to go back sooner or later.’

      ‘Make it later,’ Pam pleaded gently. ‘Please, Julie. Cable Adam. Telephone him, if you like. Explain how you feel. I’m sure he’d come, if you asked him.’

      The trouble was, Julie was sure he would, too, despite his reservations. If she really wanted him to come, he would make every effort to do so, but something held her back from making the call. She didn’t know why, but she was loath to introduce Adam to the unsophistication of life at the Kawana Point. He wouldn’t like it and he wouldn’t fit in here. It wasn’t that it was not luxurious enough for him; the appointments of the cabins compared very favourably with hotels back home. It was the casual attitudes he would object to, the lack of formality in manner and dress, and the easy familiarity of the other guests.