Philip took hold of Daisy and lifted her upright but he kept his hands on her. Now he was speaking. The fire was between them and the lake. The bathers could be heard splashing and romping toward the shore. Daisy sat tense, turning a look of hate on them. They ran toward the fire. Mary huddled up to it.
"Oh, how cold it has got!" she cried.
"Cold!" laughed Conway. "It is just heavenly cool".
"Well, I am cold".
Sholto peered into Daisy’s face.
"How odd you look, Miss Vaughan! Are you angry?"
"Angry!" she repeated, in a high voice. "I never was happier in all my life. I’m in the seventh heaven of content. Please stop staring at me".
"Oh, how cold it has got!" cried Mary, spreading her hands to the fire.
"Have a drink of lemonade", said Conway callously.
"What have you been saying to my brother-in-law, Miss Vaughan?" asked Sholto, still peering into Daisy’s face.
She struck at him. "You are an odious boy", she said.
Dr. Ramsay and Wilmott now returned from their ramble. They had been happy in each other’s company, but when the doctor saw Mary shivering by the fire, he came to her frowning.
"I warned you, Mrs. Court", he said sternly. "Yet you have bathed three times. Now, I am afraid, you have really taken a chill". He laid his fingers on her pulse.
Mary looked ready to sink.
"She could not have taken a chill", exclaimed Conway. "She only wants to be fussed over!"
"See this long mane of wet hair down her back", said the doctor, collecting it in his hand like seaweed.
Conway brought a cloak and threw it carelessly about her shoulders.
"Where is Adeline?" he asked.
She came out from among the willows followed by Nero. She looked calm yet brilliant. Her white teeth flashed in her face as she came smiling toward the others.
"Where have you been?" asked Philip suspiciously.
"Among the willows", she returned gaily, "feeding Nero. Ah, what a day it’s been! What a success! Don’t you all agree? But the moon is sinking. I think we ought to collect our things and return home or we shall be lost on the way".
All agreed that this was so and, with a sense of haste and yet regret, they collected their belongings and smothered the fire. With its dying, the bathing party was over. They had a time of it to capture the horses in the nearby field; they had broken from their tether and were grazing at will. Out of the darkness appeared Tite. He had been waiting a long while with Wilmott’s horse. Wilmott had only lately acquired it, was proud yet half-apologetic for it.
"What do you think of my mare?" he asked of the doctor.
Dr. Ramsay screwed up his eyes to examine its dark bulk. He broke into a laugh.
"What a back!" he exclaimed. "Certainly you can’t fall out of that hollow!"
"She answers my purpose very well", answered Wilmott stiffly.
"I’m sure she does. I’ve known her for years. She’s perfectly reliable. You did well to acquire her".
But Wilmott was offended. He climbed into the saddle. His feelings were hurt for his mare. He had pictured himself as cutting rather a fine figure on her.
"Good night!" he called out to the others and, without waiting for their company, rode away.
Tite trotted along the soft, sandy soil of the road beside him.
"You need not have brought the mare, Tite", said Wilmott. "I could very well have returned with the party to Jalna and from there walked home".
"I wanted to come, Boss", said Tite. "I wanted to see what a bathing party was like".
"And what did you think of it, Tite?"
"Well, Boss, I only wash to be clean and, when I see folks wash themselves again and again, I am surprised. I am surprised to see white folks do a war-dance round the fire like Indian folks did in the old time. It made me want to do a war-whoop".
"It is well for you that you restrained yourself, Tite".
"Boss", went on Tite, "it surprised me to see the ladies undressing among the trees".
"Gad", exclaimed Wilmott, "you came early to the party!"
"It made me laugh", went on Tite happily, "to see that one, which my grandmother calls the harlot, lay herself across Captain Whiteoak’s knees and draw him down to her. I was sorry you were not there to see, Boss".
"If you do not come to a bad end, Tite", said Wilmott grimly, "it will be a wonder. Remember, you are not to talk of this to anyone-not even your grandmother!"
"Very well, Boss. But it is a pity I cannot tell my grandmother, for she does enjoy a good laugh".
XX. The Gallop in the Forest
Mary looked wan and blue about the lips when she reached Jalna. Adeline made her go to bed while she herself descended to the kitchen to prepare a hot drink for her. Her brothers followed her. They were as curious as monkeys and ran here and there carrying lighted candles in their hands and peering into every cupboard and corner. They went down the brick passage, past the rooms where the Coveyducks and Lizzie slept, to where they knew was the wine-cellar. Philip had had it well stocked. He prided himself on his knowledge of wines and their qualities. When he entertained his friends he was able to give them the best.
Adeline heard the boys whispering outside the door of the wine-cellar. A low fire was smouldering on the hearth and she put on a saucepan of milk to heat. She went on tiptoe to the arched doorway of the passage and listened. Sholto was saying:
"I saw tools in the scullery. If I had a screw-driver I could easily take off the padlock. It would be fun to find what Philip has in there".
"Wait till they’re in bed. We’ll come down again and explore".
"No, you won’t, you young ruffians!" said Adeline. "Come along out of there, and if I have to complain of you to Philip you’ll be sorry".
They came unrepentant, candle in hand. They looked strange and beautiful in the dim passage, with the flickering light in their faces. As they passed the Coveyducks’ door Conway gave it a thump with his candlestick. A groan came from within.
"Up with you!" he called out. "The house is on fire".
"How dare you!" said Adeline. "What a mischief you are! ’Tis nothing, Coveyduck! Go to sleep again. I have but come down for a drink of milk".
"The milk is boiling over", observed Sholto.
"Snatch it off, you ninny!" said his sister.
Coveyduck sank to slumber again.
Adeline put a pinch of cinnamon in the milk and carried it up the two flights of stairs, the boys following her. Mary drank it gratefully. Sometimes she missed her mother’s petting. She now put her thin arms about Adeline and kissed her.
"Good night", said Adeline, kissing her in return. "Sleep tight".
"It was a lovely bathing party".
"It was indeed".
"When may we have another?"
"When I can get the taste of this one out of my mouth". She turned abruptly and hastened from the room and down the stairs.
She set her candlestick on the dressing-table and looked toward the bed. Philip was not there. He had driven the wagonette to the stable and probably was lingering to talk to the groom. She could not trust her self-control in the exchange of a word with Philip that night. She undressed in haste and put on her long, heavily embroidered nightdress. Her thick hair was still moist and when she lay down she spread it over the pillow away from her. She left the candle burning for Philip. It lighted the room but dimly, yet, in an odd way, brought out the colouring of the bedstead and hangings more richly than a brighter light might have done. Boney, perched on his stand, glowed like a green and vermilion flower. Adeline composed her features, facing the candlelight. Her heart beat heavily in a primitive, wild anger at Daisy Vaughan.