"And if you don't get to heaven?"
"I suppose I'll take a furnished flat somewhere."
Sara was waiting for them at the bottom of the terrace as they drove up. He leaped out and kissed her hand.
"Much obliged," he murmured, with a slight twist of his head in the direction of Hetty, who was giving orders to the chauffeur.
"You're quite welcome," said Sara, with a smile of understanding. "She's lovely, isn't she?"
"Enchanting!" said he, almost too loudly.
Hetty walked up the long ascent ahead of them. She did not have to look back to know that they were watching her with unfaltering interest. She could feel their gaze.
"Absolutely adorable," he added, enlarging his estimate without really being aware that he voiced it.
Sara shot a look at his rapt face, and turned her own away to hide the queer little smile that flickered briefly and died away.
Hetty, pleading a sudden headache, declined to accompany them later on in the day when they set forth in the car to "pick up" Brandon Booth at the inn. They were to bring him over, bag and baggage, to stay till Tuesday.