Grand Canary by A. J. Cronin

‘We have American friends at Arucas. They are kindly folks. They have a pleasant villa, well, you’d say it was real pleasant by its name. It is called Bella Vista. Will you come?’
    He shook his head slowly.
    â€˜No! I won’t come.’
    Her eyes could not leave his face.
    â€˜It would be a good thing if you came,’ she persisted in a low voice. ‘ The scenery is lovely there. They are Christian people and very kind. You would be made real welcome. You’d be at home there. Isn’t that a fact, Robert?’
    Tranter, standing with averted head and gaze fixed upon the lower deck, made an unusually gawky gesture of agreement.
    â€˜Why should I come?’ said Harvey stiffly. ‘I’m not a Christian I’m not kind. I should hate your dear American friends and they naturally would hate me. The very name Bella Vista fills me with loathing. And lastly, as I told you before, I’m probably going ashore to get drunk.’
    Her eyes fell away from him.
    â€˜I beg of you,’ she said in an almost inaudible voice, ‘ I beg of you. I’ve prayed –’ She broke off and for a moment stood staring at the deck. At last she raised her head.
    â€˜We’ll go then, Robbie,’ she declared in an even voice. ‘It’s a long drive. We can find a carriage on the quay.’
    They descended to the lower deck. Deliberately she took the opposite side from that on which Elissa stood.
    â€˜Say, Susan,’ ventured Tranter as they went along, ‘ don’t you think we might postpone our visit till the afternoon?’
    â€˜No, I don’t think so at all,’ she answered, staring straight ahead. ‘We’ve been asked for lunch.’
    â€˜I know. Sure, I know,’ he said awkwardly. ‘ But we don’t have to spend the whole day there. I guess the afternoon would have done pretty well enough.’
    She stopped and faced him, her recent agitation welling to the surface in another cause.
    â€˜This is the third time this morning you’ve suggested we stop back from Bella Vista. You know it’s important we go there, Robbie.’ She asked with trembling lips: ‘What’s wrong with you, and what else is there to do?’
    â€˜Now, now, Sue,’ he protested quickly, ‘You’re not to get upset. But, well – what’s the harm if I did think we might have taken the morning to go over to Las Canteras with Mrs Baynham? She asked me to accompany her party to the beach. She said we might all take a swim. It’s darned hot. And you know how fond you are of the water. Why, back home you were the bestest swimmer ever.’
    She gave a little involuntary gasp.
    â€˜So that’s it,’ she cried. ‘I might have guessed. And the way you put it over – trying to get me to the beach. You know you always hated to go swimming. You know you never could swim. She asked us indeed! Don’t you see she’s only mocking at you? Oh, Robbie, Robbie dear. What’s come of you these last few days? You won’t let that woman out of your sight. I tell you she’s guying you all the time. Yet you keep running after her like you were crazy.’
    Instantly he turned red.
    â€˜You’ve got it all wrong,’ he blurted out. ‘There’s nothing – absolutely nothing I’m ashamed of.’
    â€˜She’s a bad lot.’ These words came quivering from her lips.
    â€˜Susan!’
    There was a silence during which she fought for self-control; then, speaking with determination, she said rapidly:
    â€˜I won’t stand by and see you made a mock of. I love you too much for that. We’ll go to Arucas. We’ll go now. And we’ll stay there all day.’
    He met her resolution with an elevation of his dignity. Knowing himself to be in the right, bitterly disappointed at her refusal to go to Las Canteras, he answered nevertheless, in a calm and lofty tone:
    â€˜Very