"In the flat-woods. And, by the way, don't worry about any snakes. Virginia said you were anxious."
"Nonsense," said his aunt, amused, "Virginia is trying to plague you! I said nothing about snakes to her."
"Didn't you say there were snakes in my district?"
"No. I did say there were girls in your district, but it didn't worry me."
His face was so serious that the smile died out on her own.
"Why, Garret," she said, "surely you are not offended, are you?"
"Not with you—Virginia has apparently taken her cue from that unspeakable Mrs. Van Dieman, and is acting like the deuce toward Shiela Cardross. Couldn't you find an opportunity to discourage that sort of behaviour? It's astonishingly underbred."
His aunt's eyelids flickered as she regarded him.
"Come to see me to-night and explain a little more fully what Virginia has done, dear. Colonel Vetchen is hunting for me and I'm going to let him find me now. Why don't you come back with us if you are not looking for anybody in particular."
"I'm looking for Shiela Cardross," he said.