VI
IN THE STUDIO
As autumn sped on Brenda was not very ardent in following up the Mansion work. But what a perfect autumn it was! How bracing the air! How much more delightful to spend the daylight hours in long rides out over the bridle-path, along the broad boulevard, or in the narrower byways of the suburbs. Sometimes, instead of riding, Arthur and Brenda would walk even as far as the reservoir and back. One afternoon in late November they had circled the lovely sheet of water that lies embosomed among the hills of Brookline, and, waiting for a car, had sat down on a wayside seat.
"Except for the bare trees it's hard to believe that this is November," Brenda had said.
"Yes," responded Arthur. "Days like this almost redeem the bad character of the New England climate."
"Oh, Arthur, there isn't a better all-round climate anywhere."
"After a winter in California, I should think that you'd know better than that."
