"You slept, of course," Alix answered, absently. "Where Mr. Peter go now?" she asked. "He have some coffee?"
"No eat," the boy answered. He indicated the direction of the creek, and after a while Alix, with an icy heart, went to the bridge and the pool where Peter had first found Cherry only a few weeks ago.
He was standing, staring vaguely at the low and lisping stream, and Alix felt a great pang of pity when she saw him. He came to her smiling, but as Cherry had smiled, with a wan and ghastly face.
"Peter, you're not well?" Alix said. "I think--I am a little upset," he answered. They walked back to the house together. Alix ordered him to take a hot bath, and made him drink some coffee, when, refreshed and grateful, he came out to the porch half an hour later. They shared the little meal that was her luncheon and his breakfast.
"And now we've got to go down and get the others, for they're coming up here for dinner," Alix said. "Do you--do you feel up to tennis?" she asked, anxiously.
"Sure I do!" Peter answered with an effort.
"Don't have to, you know," she assured him, feeling a great desolation sweep her.
"Oh, I'd like it. It's a wonderful day," he answered, politely.
He followed her to the car and got in the front seat beside her.
"You're awfully good to me," he said, briefly, when they were going down the long grade.