"You’re not going to be a lumberjack, are you?"
"No. But I shall have rough work to do and I must save the clothes I brought with me. It will be some time before I can afford to buy new ones".
"I think you look charming", said Adeline, "except for the side-whiskers. They are incongruous".
He gave her an intent look. "Do you really dislike them?" he asked in a low tone. Philip had moved ahead.
She looked at him boldly. "Yes. I do".
"They’ll come off tonight!"
"How did you find us?" demanded Philip over his shoulder.
"I engaged a man to drive me out. We stopped to ask the way of a man with a horse and buggy, down the road a bit. He turned out to be your Patsy O’Flynn. I don’t know what was so funny about it, but seeing him as he had looked in Galway and on board ship and in Quebec, and then seeing him sitting in a buggy by a rail fence, was just too much for me. I laughed and laughed. He must have thought I was just as funny, for he laughed and laughed too".
Philip and Adeline had never seen Wilmott like this. He seemed hilarious.
"I love the freedom of this country!" he exclaimed. "You are not going to get rid of me, you know. On the way here I discovered a little log house. The man who lives in it wants to move farther north. He wants to get away from so much civilisation! Well, the long and short of it is, I’m going to buy his property-a highly superior log cabin and fifty acres, part of which is swamp. It is on the edge of a river and a bigger, better river than yours, the man tells me".
Philip looked at him dubiously. He was afraid Wilmott had made a bad bargain. He liked him but was not sure that he wanted him for a neighbour. There was an uncertain quality in Wilmott. Also he had a way of assuming an intellectual intimacy with Adeline, as though they two looked on things from the same angle. But Philip liked him and his frank face lighted. He gave Wilmott a slap on the shoulder.
"Good man!" he said. "But I must bring Vaughan to see the log house before you pay the cash. He will know if it is worth it".
"Nothing shall dissuade me", said Wilmott. "It’s the sort of place I’ve been dreaming of".
"What about the swamp?"
"The owner says it will grow onions".
"Onions! What would you do with them?"
"Sell them".
"My dear fellow, you’re in for a tumble if you bank on making money from onions".
"The swamp is a haven for wild-fowl. All varieties make their home there. Just come and see".
"You had better help us choose a site for our house. I have the axe-men engaged but haven’t yet decided where to put it".
"Are you sure you aren’t lost?"
"Positive". Philip again consulted his compass. They moved on through the wood.
"I wish D’Arcy and Brent could see us", said Wilmott. "I had a letter from D’Arcy the other day. They are in New York. It’s very amusing they say. Strange fashions-spittoons everywhere, negroes in unbelievable clothes! They saw Fanny Kemble and think she over-acts". He turned to Adeline. "Have you seen Fanny Kemble?"
"No. What I enjoyed most in London was The Bohemian Girl. I declare I shall never forget that evening. It was heavenly".
Philip shouted, "Here is the spot!"
He had pushed ahead and now awaited them in an open space. Perhaps in an earlier time some settler had chosen it as his dwelling, for great stumps showed where forest trees had been felled. But these were buried in the luxuriant foliage of the wild grape, or clothed in moss. The clearing had a friendly air. The sun poured into it and the trees which had been spared spread in extraordinary beauty. A tall young silver-birch fluttered its satin leaves and its satin bark was flawless. As they drew near to it a flock of bluebirds rose from its midst, not in fright but rather in play, and flew skyward where their blueness soon was merged.
Adeline never had heard of the sentimental belief in the bluebird for happiness but she liked their looks, and cried:
"Oh, the pretty things! They know the spot! We shall build here! I am so happy I could die".
It was the day of fainting. She tried to faint to demonstrate her emotion but could not. She staggered a little.
"What’s the matter?" asked Philip.
"Can’t you see I’m fainting?"
"Nonsense", he said, but he looked at her a little anxiously.
"Sit down here", begged Wilmott. He led her to a low moss-grown stump.
She sat down, closing her eyes. Wilmott snatched off his hat and began fanning her.
"She’s not fainting", said Philip. "Look at the colour in her lips".
She put her fingers over her lips and sighed. She felt a stirring beneath her. She sprang up. A large adder glided across the stump and into the grass. Adeline’s shriek might have been heard to Vaughanlands. The two men stared in horror.
"A snake!" she screamed. "A poisonous snake! There-in the grass!"
They found sticks and ran after it, beating the ground.
She was composed on their return.
"Did you kill it?" she asked.
"Yes", answered Philip. "Want to see it?"
"I’d rather not".
"It was a yard long", said Wilmott, "and as thick as my arm".
"How horrible!"
"Never mind", said Philip. "We shall soon be rid of them. Vaughan told me there were a few about his place. When we have the undergrowth cleared there will be an end to them".
"This is a superb site for your house", said Wilmott. "That little rise is the perfect place. It should face south". He seemed to have forgotten Adeline’s fright and paced up and down marking the size of the foundation.
Philip had gone off to the spring. He now returned carrying a tin mug of water. He looked anxiously at Adeline as he gave her the drink.
"I’m surprised at your making such a fuss", he said, "after the snakes you’ve seen in India. The snakes here are harmless".
She meekly drank the icy spring water.
"I had never sat on one before". She shuddered.
Wilmott called out, "You need not worry about excavating. The soil is just right and the site well drained. I should advise a basement for the kitchen and usual offices. It will be warm in winter and cool in summer. You must have a square hall, with drawing-room on one side and library and dining-room on the other. A deep porch would look well".
"He’ll be telling us next what to name the house", said Philip.
Adeline rose.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Better. But I was almost fainting before the snake came. Why was I?"
"I forget".
"Oh, yes-it was the bluebirds. They made me so happy".
"You should try to restrain your emotions".
"But they’re all so fresh and strong".
"Bottle ’em up!"
"But they won’t keep".
Wilmott called out, "Behind the main stairway you should have space for another good room. The house should be broad, substantial and hospitable-looking".
"I shall see to that", said Philip testily.
"I recommend a third storey. It makes the house more impressive, and if your family is large-"
"It’s not going to be large".
"Still, I should have the third storey".
He came back to them. His thin face was alight.
"I am so hungry", said Adeline. "Let us have our sandwiches".
"Good", said Philip. "Will you join us, Wilmott?"
"Are you sure you have enough for three? However, you need not worry about me. One will be plenty".
They sat down on the sun-warmed grass where one must crush tiny pink flowers, they grew so close. Philip unstrapped his lunch-basket and took out sandwiches, small cakes, a leather-covered flask of wine and collapsible drinking-cup.
"Do you remember our picnics in Quebec?" asked Wilmott.
"Oh, what fun we had!" exclaimed Adeline, her mouth full of chicken sandwich.