Meryl smiled, but made no comment. Mere admiration seemed superfluous, and Carew was grateful that she spared him raptures. So they sat quite still, and instead of any constraint between them because of the silence, there was a vague sense of restfulness and understanding. Meryl spoke first, and then she made no allusion to his love of the spot.
"I think you were right," she said simply. "Mrs. Grenville must be one of Rhodesia's heroines."
"How do you specially mean it?"
"I mean it, because one knows there must be times when the isolation is almost unendurable, and when she must long for many of the things of her old life, however much she declares otherwise."
"Yes, I think there are. She evidently had many friends, and she has almost lost them all. It is difficult to keep up friendships by post."
Then Ailsa herself joined them.
"Has Major Carew been with you into the temple, yet?" she asked Meryl. "He is better than any guide-book for information."
Meryl coloured faintly, but looked a little amused. He had so persistently withstood every friendly hint or invitation to accompany them among the ruins.
"He has been very much occupied ever since we came," she said, glancing towards him.
Carew looked quite unconcerned, and merely assented, which made Ailsa rather want to shake him. "But it ought to be part of your business," she told him, "to interest visitors in our wonderful old ruin."