“You’re jealous, that’s all,” Evelyn remarked, when she could make herself heard.
The beauty and grandeur of the great Marble Arch sobered them a trifle and they were enthusiastic in their admiration. Then, when they could look no longer, they continued toward their rendezvous, leaving the beautiful, historic park behind and speeding along the Thames embankment toward Henley.
As they advanced further out of the city and deeper into the country, they were dazzled by the beauty of the scenery. The sun struck hot and bright upon the road, while the shrubs and foliage on the outskirts of the woodland seemed outlined in molten gold against the softer background of shadowy green. The river shone and sparkled in the brilliant sun like some great, glistening jewel turned to liquid sunshine. The world was bathed in gold.
“If our guardian were only here!” Lucile murmured. “And little Margaret!”
Jessie turned to her, surprised. “How did you know what I was thinking about?” she demanded.
“I didn’t,” said Lucile; “only, when I see the woods and the water, it makes me think of the camp-fire and our guardian and little Margaret——”
“Isn’t this where we stop, Dad?” Phil interrupted; and they had no time for further conversation. 130
As they alighted, a man came up to them and, touching his hat, said that he was from the “Vigil” and was looking for a party bound there.
Upon Mr. Payton’s assuring the man that his was the party in question, they stepped into the trim little launch that was to bear them to their destination.
“Say, wouldn’t it be great to have a little motor boat like this down at the river?” said Lucile, trailing her hand in the warm water. “Just think of the races we could have with it—although nothing could be much more exciting than the one we had,” she added, loyally.