Marta, as well as Peggy Webster, felt that she had not had so satisfactory a day as she had dreamed of. In the first place, Mrs. Burton had been so absorbed in the day’s arrangements that she had paid but little attention to her outside guests.
Then, Dan Webster had not been so agreeable as Marta expected him to be. Perhaps she had no right to have taken his interest a little for granted. His past kindness must have been due to sympathy caused by her accident, for Dan was undeniably one of the physically strong people to whom weakness made an appeal. Now, as she was a great deal better, she no longer required his physical assistance. So today he devoted the most of his time and attention to Sally Ashton. Sally, declaring that the grandeur and coldness of the great stone cliffs made her lonely and afraid, had appealed to Dan to be with her whenever he could. So, as Marta had made no such appeal, she was neglected.
However it was arranged for them that Dan should drive Marta home in one of the small carriages and that Peggy was to accompany them.
By his own request Howard Brent was allowed to make the fourth and to sit by Peggy.
“After dinner, tonight, when you have rested I should like to speak to you alone a few minutes,” Howard asked unexpectedly, just before their arrival at Sunrise camp. “Mrs. Burton said I might stay on until bedtime.”
CHAPTER XIII
Disillusion
For an hour before dinner Peggy remained alone in her tent, Bettina having seen that she was comfortable, had then gone away.
She was annoyed at finding herself so stiff and sore and for some reason so oddly depressed. For Peggy was not as accustomed to depression as most girls, being too fond of outdoor life and not given to introspection. But it was natural enough that the nervous shock, as well as the physical strain of her recent experience, should tell on her more as the hours passed than at the beginning.
Ralph and Terry Benton had gone home at once to their hotel on the return of the Camp Fire party to camp.
Through dinner Peggy sat quietly between her mother and Dan, not talking very much.