But she did not disappear, and Punch proved her no spirit by stalking gravely up to give her welcome. Without taking her startled eyes off Graeme, she dropped one white hand on to the great brown head and the diamonds sprinkled her dove-coloured dress.
"Mr. Graeme!" she said, in a voice which very fully expressed her own doubts as to his reality also.
"Mar—Miss Brandt? ... Is it possible?"
They had both drawn nearer, he along the broad gravel walk, she along the narrow path between the eucalyptus trees.
"Are you quite sure you are real?" he asked breathlessly, and for answer she laughed and stretched a friendly hand towards him.
He took it with shining eyes, and then bent suddenly and kissed it gently, and his eyes were shining still more brightly as she drew it hastily away.
"But whatever brings you here?" she asked abruptly.
"We're just out of the sea,"—and the joy of the sea and the morning, and this greatest thing of all, was in his face.
"But why are you here? What are you doing here?"
"Doing? We're living here."