It was very peaceful—the silence was hardly broken save for the occasional flutter of wings in the trees overhead or the distant sound of a motor horn from the main road.
Feathers was lounging on the grass beside Marie, his hat thrown off and his hair rumpled up anyhow.
There was a little silence, then Marie said:
"I don't think I've ever seen anything so lovely. I wonder why Chris didn't came to a place like this, instead of——" She broke off, realizing that she was speaking her thoughts aloud.
"Instead of to that Tower of Babel by the sea, eh?" Feathers asked casually.
"Yes, that is what I meant."
157 "I suppose he thought you would find it more amusing."
"Or that he would," said Marie bitterly.
Feathers did not answer. He was clumsily threading bits of grass through the ribbon of Marie's hat, which lay beside him.
"What's become of young Atkins?" he asked abruptly.