"She is kindness itself, although I think our demands for clean towels and a few other things rather appal her. She gives us excellent and abundant food, even though it may not be served in exactly such a way as we are accustomed. Now that I have discovered you all, I shall be much better contented. I'd like to go with you to-morrow, Gwen, if you really want me."
"Can you doubt it when I needed no hint to make the proposition? We'll stop for you about four. You won't stay to sample the mushrooms? We'll guarantee that they will not poison you."
"No, I must go. Auntie will think I am lost."
Gwen watched her mount the path which led to the road. "She isn't quite so frivolous as she would have us believe," she said, turning to where her aunt had stood. But Miss Elliott had disappeared and Gwen settled herself in the hammock where she lay looking off at sea. The tide was coming in and was almost at its height. The water was rougher than it had been in the morning, and every now and then tossed up a shower of spray against the rocks. On the opposite point the towering evergreens were outlined sharply against the sky. In a few minutes a bright light flashed out from beyond the curving line of mainland to the left. "Good evening, Seguin," Gwen nodded, and then turned her eyes again toward the incoming waves. "Beautiful white horses, wild white horses!" she murmured as she swung slowly in her hammock. Presently she raised herself and sat up. An erect figure upon the rocks stood out distinctly. "What's he doing down there?" said Gwen in a low voice. "Why doesn't he keep his own side the fence?" The man, watching the water, turned and looked toward the porch. Gwen dropped back again and continued her swinging, though she was conscious that the figure was approaching nearer. She did not speak till it paused in front of the porch. "Well, Mr. Hilary," she said, "what are you doing over here? It's too dark to paint, isn't it?"
"Quite too dark, but I have been studying the effect of evening light upon the water, and the forms, whorls and arabesques down there where the waves come in. I shall paint it to-morrow. At least I shall try a sketch from memory and finish it the next time we have a like evening."
"So you like it from our rocks better than from any other point."
"This special motif? Yes. Good-night."
He was moving on when Gwen again raised herself. She had not meant to detain him, but why should he want to hurry? "Did you get your pebbles home safely?" she asked, feeling it was rather an inane question, for why should anything interfere with their safe conduct since they could neither melt nor deteriorate in any other way, through transportation?
He halted and rested one foot on the low step. "Quite safely," he answered in a polite tone. "The children were delighted to have them to play with."
"It was for the children you gathered them?"