"Beastly sad," said Nancy, as she went her way, and the child looked after her puzzled.
"I believe Nancy's jealous of Sabina," she said.
Then it was Sally Groves who laughed and her merriment shook the billows of her mighty person.
Estelle found herself somewhat depressed as she went home. Not so much the words as the general spirit of these comments chilled her. After luncheon she visited her father's study and talked to him while he smoked.
"What perfectly beautiful thing can I get for Ray and Sabina for a wedding present?"
He cleaned his pipe with one of the crow's feathers Estelle was used to collect for him. They stood in vases on the mantel-shelf.
"It's a puzzler," confessed Arthur Waldron.
"D'you think Ray has grown bad-tempered, father?"
"Do you?"
"No, I'm sure I don't. He is a little different, but that's because he's going to be married. No doubt people do get a little different, then. But Nancy Buckler at the Mill said she thought the best wedding present for him would be a new temper."