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When he descended the stairs once more he found Portlaw, surrounded by the contents of the mail-sack, and in a very bad temper, while Malcourt stood warming his back at the blazing birch-logs, and gazing rather stupidly at a folded telegram in his hands. "Well, Hamil damn it all!
My men report Ruffle Lake full of coots and blue-bills, and there'll be bigger duck in the West Lagoons." "I'm going too," said Gray, "also Shiela if she wants to and four guides and that Seminole, Little Tiger." Hamil glanced restlessly at the forest where his work lay. And he needed it now. But he said pleasantly, "I'll go if you say so." "Of course I say so," exclaimed Cardross heartily.
He laughed and sauntered off into the house as Hamil's horse was brought around; and Hamil, traversing the terrace, mounted under a running fire of badinage from Shiela and Cecile who had just come from the tennis-courts to attempt some hated embroidery for the charity fair then impending. So he rode away to his duties in the forest, leaving a placid sewing-circle on the terrace.
At first Hamil could see nothing in the tangle of brier and saw-palmetto, but after a while he became aware of a wild-cat, tufted ears flattenend, standing in the shadow of a striped bush and looking at him out of the greenest eyes he had ever beheld. "Pretty Tom," said the girl caressingly. "Tommy, come and let Shiela scratch his ears."
"I thought you were rather impressed by Shiela," continued the girl. "I really did think so, Mr. Hamil." "Your sister predicted that I'd lose my heart and senses to you" said Hamil, laughing and reseating himself beside her. "Have you?" "Of course I have. Who could help it?" The girl considered him smilingly. "You're the nicest of men," she said.
Ascott's suggestion which really is my own idea I have decided not to build all those Rhine castles, which useless notion, if I am not mistaken, originated with you. I don't want to disfigure my beautiful wilderness. Mrs. Ascott and I had a very plain talk with Hamil and we forced him to agree with us that the less he did to improve my place the better for the place.
Her voice died out and she blushed furiously as the memory of Hamil flashed in her mind. "Shiela," he said quietly, "now and then there's a streak of misguided decency in me. It cropped out that winter day when I did what I did. And I suppose it's cropping up now when I ask you, for your own sake, to get rid of me and give yourself a chance." "How?" "Legally." "I cannot, and you know it."
"Good night, then, Mr. Hamil. If circumstances permitted it would have been delightful this putting off the cloak of convention and donning motley for a little unconventional misbehaviour with you.... But as it is, it worries me slightly as much as the episode and your opinion are worth." "I am wondering," he said, "why this little tincture of bitterness flavours what you say to me?"
Hamil, that I am sorry to trouble her, but that I want the money very much, and that if she will send it down to me, she will confer a very great favour, indeed." "I had rather not," the servant replied. "She didn't appear pleased at my going up the first time. And I am sure she will be less pleased if I go again."
The young girl beside him had finished her guava, and now, idly swinging her tennis-bat, stood watching the games in the sunken courts below. "Please don't consider me a burden," he said. "I would be very glad to sit here and watch you play." "I have been playing, thank you." "But you won't let me interfere with anything that " "No, Mr. Hamil, I won't let you interfere with anything."
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