Then the horse was induced to start on. After a while they all reached the house, and Lawrence was helped to his room, while Leander volunteered to go on his wheel for the doctor.
In due time the doctor came, and pronounced that the young man would be as well as usual again in a few days.
The two girls were standing on the piazza, when this decision was announced to them by Mrs. Ffolliott.
Carolyn walked quickly to the nearest chair, and sat down. She fixed her eyes on that line of dazzling brightness which was the sea. But she saw nothing. Prudence sauntered to the railing, and leaned against it.
Presently Mrs. Ffolliott returned to the house, and the two were alone.
Prudence walked to a long chair near her cousin, and placed herself luxuriously in it. She still wore her bicycle suit. She crossed her legs, and, leaning forward, embraced her knees with her clasped hands.
"Got a smoke about you, Caro?" she asked.
"No. And I didn't know you had taken up smoking."
"No more I have. But my attitude, and the piazza, and a certain natural depravity in my own breast suggested the question. I think I shall try cigarettes. And one can have a truly divine thing in cigarette-cases now. And a woman's hand is peculiarly fitted to show jewels when holding a weed out—thus."
The speaker extended her left hand, while she seemed to puff smoke from her lips as she did so.