course； she would see him again in London。
And； lying there in the dark； she thought of their first meeting；
one Sunday morning； in Hyde Park。 The Colonel religiously observed
Church Parade； and would even come all the way down to Westminster；
from his flat near Knightsbridge； in order to fetch his niece up to
it。 She remembered how； during their stroll； he had stopped
suddenly in front of an old gentleman with a puffy yellow face and
eyes half open。
〃Ah！ Mr。 Heatherleyyou up from Devonshire？ How's your nephew
theersculptor？〃
And the old gentleman； glaring a little； as it seemed to her； from
under his eyelids and his grey top hat； had answered： 〃Colonel
Ercott； I think？ Here's the fellow himselfMark！〃 And a young
man had taken off his hat。 She had only noticed at first that his
dark hair grewnot longbut very thick； and that his eyes were
very deep…set。 Then she saw him smile； it made his face all eager；
yet left it shy； and she decided that he was nice。 Soon after； she
had gone with the Ercotts to see his 'things'； for it was； of
course； and especially in those days； quite an event to know a
sculptorrather like having a zebra in your park。 The Colonel had
been delighted and a little relieved to find that the 'things' were
nearly all of beasts and birds。 〃Very interestin'〃 to one full of
curious lore about such； having in his time killed many of them；
and finding himself at the end of it with a curious aversion to
killing any morewhich he never put into words。
Acquaintanceship had ripened fast after that first visit to his
studio； and now it was her turn to be relieved that Mark Lennan
devoted himself almost entirely to beasts and birds instead of to
the human form； so…called divine。 Ah！ yesshe would have
suffered； now that she loved him； she saw that。 At all events she
could watch his work and help it with sympathy。 That could not be
wrong。 。 。 。
She fell asleep at last； and dreamed that she was in a boat alone
on the river near her country cottage； drifting along among spiky
flowers like asphodels； with birds singing and flying round her。
She could move neither face nor limbs； but that helpless feeling
was not unpleasant； till she became conscious that she was drawing
nearer and nearer to what was neither water nor land； light nor
darkness； but simply some unutterable feeling。 And then she saw；
gazing at her out of the rushes on the banks； a great bull head。
It moved as she movedit was on both sides of her； yet all the
time only one head。 She tried to raise her hands and cover her
eyes； but could notand woke with a sob。 。 。 。 It was light。
Nearly six o'clock already！ Her dream made her disinclined to
trust again to sleep。 Sleep was a robber nowof each minute of
these few days！ She got up； and looked out。 The morning was fine；
the air warm already； sweet with dew； and heliotrope nailed to the
wall outside her window。 She had but to open her shutters and walk
into the sun。 She dressed； took her sunshade； stealthily slipped
the shutters back； and stole forth。 Shunning the hotel garden；
where the eccentricity of her early wandering might betray the
condition of her spirit； she passed through into the road toward
the Casino。 Without perhaps knowing it； she was making for where
she had sat with him yesterday afternoon； listening to the band。
Hatless； but defended by her sunshade； she excited the admiration
of the few connoisseurs as yet abroad； strolling in blue blouses to
their labours； and this simple admiration gave her pleasure。 For
once she was really conscious of the grace in her own limbs；
actually felt the gentle vividness of her own face； with its nearly
black hair and eyes； and creamy skinstrange sensation； and very
comforting！
In the Casino gardens she walked more slowly； savouring the
aromatic trees； and stopping to bend and look at almost every
flower； then； on the seat； where she had sat with him yesterday；
she rested。 A few paces away were the steps that led to the
railway…station； trodden upwards eagerly by so many； day after day；
night after night； and lightly or sorrowfully descended。 Above
her； two pines； a pepper…tree； and a palm mingled their shadeso
fantastic the jumbling of trees and souls in this strange place！
She furled her sunshade and leaned back。 Her gaze； free and
friendly； passed from bough to bough。 Against the bright sky；
unbesieged as yet by heat or dust； they had a spiritual look； lying
sharp and flat along the air。 She plucked a cluster of pinkish
berries from the pepper…tree； crushing and rubbing them between her
hands to get their fragrance。 All these beautiful and sweet things
seemed to be a part of her joy at being loved； part of this sudden
summer in her heart。 The sky； the flowers； that jewel of green…
blue sea； the bright acacias； were nothing in the world but love。
And those few who passed； and saw her sitting there under the
pepper…tree； wondered no doubt at the stillness of this dame bien
mise； who had risen so early。
V
In the small hours； which so many wish were smaller； the Colonel
had awakened； with the affair of the handkerchief swelling visibly。
His niece's husband was not a man that he had much liking fora
taciturn fellow； with possibly a bit of the brute in him； a man who
rather rode people down； but； since Dolly and he were in charge of
Olive； the notion that young Lennan was falling in love with her
under their very noses was alarming to one naturally punctilious。
It was not until he fell asleep again； and woke in full morning
light； that the remedy occurred to him。 She must be taken out of
herself！ Dolly and he had been slack； too interested in this queer
place； this queer lot of people！ They had neglected her； left her
to。 。 。 Boys and girls！One ought always to remember。 But it was
not too late。 She was old Lindsay's daughter； would not forget
herself。 Poor old Lindsayfine fellow； bit too much； perhaps； of
theHuguenot in him！ Queer； those throw…backs！ Had noticed in
horses； time and againwhite hairs about the tail； carriage of the
headskip generations and then pop out。 And Olive had something
of his lookthe same ivory skin； same colour of eyes and hair！
Only she was not severe； like her father； not exactly！ And once
more there shot through the Colonel a vague dread； as of a
trusteeship neglected。 It disappeared； however； in his bath。
He was out before eight o'clock； a thin upright figure in hard
straw hat and grey flannel clothes； walking with the indescribable
loose poise of the soldier Englishman； with that air； different
from the French； German； what not； because of shoulders ever
asserting； through their drill； the right to put on mufti； with
that perfectly quiet and modest air of knowing that； whatever might
be said； there was only one way of wearing clothes and moving legs。
And； as he walked； he smoothed his drooping grey moustache；
considering how best to take his niece out of herself。 He passed
along by the Terrace； and stood for a moment looking down at the
sea beyond the pigeon…shooting ground。 Then he moved on round
under the Casino into the gardens at the back。 A beautiful spot！
Wonderful care they had taken with the plants！ It made him think a
little of Tushawore； where his old friend the Rajahprecious old
rascal！had gardens to his palace rather like these。 He paced
again to the front。 It was nice and quiet in the early mornings；
with the sea down there； and nobody trying to get the better of
anybody else。 There were fellows never happy unless they were
doing someone in the eye。 He had known men who would ride at the
devil himself； make it a point of honour to swindle a friend out of
a few pounds！ Odd place this 'Monte'sort of a Garden of Eden
gone wrong。 And all the real； but quite inarticulate love of
Nature； which had supported the Colonel through deserts and
jungles； on transports at sea； and in mountain camps； awoke in the
sweetness of these gardens。 His dear mother！ He had never
forgotten the words with which she had shown him the sunset through
the coppice down at old Withes Norton； when he was nine years old：
〃That is beauty； Jack！ Do you feel it； darling？〃 He had not felt
it at the timenot he； a thick…headed； scampering youngster。 Even
when he first went to India he had had no eye for a sunset。 The
rising generation were different。 That young couple； for instance；
under the pepper…tree； sitting there without a word； just looking
at the trees。 How long； he wondered； had they been sitting like
that？ And suddenly something in the Colonel leaped； his steel…
coloured eyes took on their look of out…facing death。 Choking down
a cough； he faced about； back to where he had stood above the
pigeon…shooting ground。 。 。 。 Olive and that young fellow！ An
assignation！ At this time in the morning！ The earth reeled。 His
brother's childhis favourite niece！ The woman whom he most
admiredthe woman for whom his heart was softest。 Leaning over
the stone parapet； no longer seeing either the smooth green of the
pigeon…shooting ground； or the smooth blue of the sea beyond； he
was moved； distressed； bewildered beyond words。 Before breakfast！
That was the devil of it！ Confession； as it were； of everything。
Moreover； he had seen their hands touching on the seat。 The blood
rushed up to his face； he had seen； spied out； what was not
intended for his eyes。 Nice positionthat！ Dolly； too； last
night； had seen。 But that was different。 Women might see things
it was expected of them。 But for a manaa gentleman！ The
fullness of his embarrassment gradually disclosed itself。 His
hands were tied。 Could he even consult Dolly？ He had a feeling of
isolation； of utter solitude。 Nobodynot anybody in the world
could understand his secret and intense discomfort。 To take up a
positionthe position he was bound to take up； as Olive's nearest
relative and protector； andwhat was itchaperon； by the aid of
knowledge come at in such a way； however unintentionally！ Never in
all his days in the regimentand many delicate matters affecting
honour had come his wayhad he had a thing like this to deal with。
Poor child！ But he had no business to think of her like