"Then it would promptly rain, Daddy, and you'd be in the depths of misery and longing for a decent hotel!" declared Sheila.
To suit Major Rogers' humor they stayed nearly two hours in the field. The quiet was just what his doctor had ordered for him. He had spent a restless night, and, though he could not sleep now, the air and the sunshine calmed his nerves. He seemed better than he had been for days, and enjoyed the run downhill into Wells.
As they were stepping out of the motor at the hotel, Carmel gave an exclamation of concern.
"I've lost my bracelet!" she declared. "What a nuisance! Wherever can it have gone?"
Johnson, the chauffeur, immediately searched on the floor and cushions of the car, but without success. No bracelet was there.
"When did you have it last?" asked Mrs. Rogers.
"In the rabbit field where we had lunch. I remember clasping and unclasping it, and I suppose it must have slipped off my wrist without my noticing. Never mind!"
"I'm sorry, but it certainly is too far to go back and look for it, dear," said Mrs. Rogers.
"Was it valuable?" asked Sheila.
"Oh no, not at all! Only Mother gave it to me on my last birthday. It doesn't really matter, and of course it can't be helped now."