They did not taste very good. In spite of sunshine he was depressed. The night had revealed Erminie in a way that almost repelled him at the time; but now that she was gone she seemed nearer and dearer than ever before.
After eating, and raking out the fire, he carefully removed all traces of Erminie’s bed to a nook well hidden in the brush, and threw himself down on it to rest. He did not expect to sleep,—he had too much that was exciting to think of; but hardly had he touched his bed of fir when Morpheus claimed him. He heard nothing till the advent of noisy picnickers arriving on the four o’clock steamer, when he jumped up, drowsy still, skirted the park carefully, and barely made the steamer in time.
At half-past five, dishevelled and haggard, he walked into his mother’s room.
CHAPTER VII
“DO YOUR BEST AND THEN——WHISTLE”
“BILLY! My son!” Mrs. Bennett started forward as he opened her door, and threw her arms around his neck.
“Did she—did a girl telephone you that I was all right, mother?”
“Yes. This morning. She said you were detained, but did not tell me where or why.”
“What else did she say?”
“Nothing, but hung up the receiver before I could ask any questions. Very odd, I thought; certainly not courteous.”