加勒比海之谜19

Thirteen EXIT VICTORIA JOHNSON The evening was drawing to a close. The steel band was at last relaxing its efforts. Tim stood by the dining room looking over the terrace. He extin- guished a few lights on tables that had been vacated. A voice spoke behind him. “Tim, can I speak to you a moment?” Tim Kendal started. “Hallo, Evelyn, is there anything I can do for you?” Evelyn looked round. “Come to this table here, and let’s sit down a minute.” She led the way to a table at the extreme end of the terrace. There were no other people near them. “Tim, you must forgive me talking to you, but I’m worried about Molly.” His face changed at once. “What about Molly?” he said stiffly. “I don’t think she’s awfully well. She seems upset.” “Things do seem to upset her rather easily just lately.” “She ought to see a doctor, I think.” “Yes, I know, but she doesn’t want to. She’d hate it.” “Why?” “Eh? What d’you mean?” “I said why? Why should she hate seeing a doctor?” “Well,” said Tim rather vaguely, “people do sometimes, you know. It’s— well, it sort of makes them feel frightened about themselves.” “You’re worried about her yourself, aren’t you, Tim?” “Yes. Yes, I am rather.” “Isn’t there anyone of her family who could come out here to be with her?” “No. That’d make things worse, far worse.” “What is the trouble—with her family, I mean?” “Oh, just one of those things. I suppose she’s just highly strung and—she didn’t get on with them—particularly her mother. She never has. They’re —they’re rather an odd family in some ways and she cut loose from them. Good thing she did, I think.” Evelyn said hesitantly—“She seems to have had blackouts, from what she told me, and to be frightened of people. Almost like persecution mania.” “Don’t say that,” said Tim angrily. “Persecution mania! People always say that about people. Just because she—well—maybe she’s a bit nervy. Coming out here to the West Indies. All the dark faces. You know, people are rather queer, sometimes, about the West Indies and coloured people.” “Surely not girls like Molly?” “Oh, how does one know the things people are frightened of? There are people who can’t be in the room with cats. And other people who faint if a caterpillar drops on them.” “I hate suggesting it—but don’t you think perhaps she ought to see a— well, a psychiatrist?” “No!” said Tim explosively. “I won’t have people like that monkeying about with her. I don’t believe in them. They make people worse. If her mother had left psychiatrists alone….” “So there was trouble of that kind in her family—was there? I mean a history of—” she chose the word carefully—“in