"Oh, they are not real people, the artist just wanted to think of the spirit of the wood. He means to represent all the happy thoughts one has in a lovely lonely wood."
The man shook his head slowly. He found it difficult to grasp the new idea of making your happy thoughts dance in light clothing.
"They be wonderfully tricky, the painters, miss. There was a gentleman who come to paint in the village last summer, and who took our Ann's picture without shoes nor stockings. I begged him not to show it to the neighbours as our Ann never do go bare-foot."
"But it's very healthy, Mr. Carter. I used to run about without shoes and stockings when I was young. I wish I could now, but you see——"
At this moment there was a cry heard from the end of the passage, where Toney and her party and Mr. Waycott and his party were just converging.
"Antonia! Antonia!"
Toney was in front of a paper on which was written, "Please walk on tip-toe down this passage." Now the tip-toes of many persons are not noiseless and in the gathering twilight it had not been observed.
"Gracious stars!" exclaimed Tony darting down the passage, "it's Aunt Dove who has done her rest!"
It was indeed Lady Dove and Miss Grossman who were standing in the doorway, looking at the retreating figures with faces full of displeasure.
"Antonia, who are these people?"