Phillis, as often seemed the case, happened to be a little apart from the others. She sat quietly, saying little herself, but evidently interested in what was going on. Twice Bice saw her, apparently unperceived by the others, do a trifling kindness; once in disentangling Miss Preston's veil which was in danger of being torn, and once in placing outside the window a stray butterfly which was blundering up and down against the glass. But she seemed to have a little difficulty in joining the gay-spirited chat which flowed with unbroken ease from Mrs Leyton, and if Jack addressed her, she showed a greater hesitation. Here was no secure and haughty rival to sting poor Bice by contempt; the girl, who would have had the worst side of her nature roused by such treatment, felt for Phillis a strange thrill of pitying sympathy. Yet pitying is hardly the right word. There was something about her which Bice envied, a kind of sweet dignity, of self-possession, in spite of shyness. Captain Leyton very soon began to fidget over his opportunities. "And if he once sits down to a sketch there will be no moving him!" said his wife with good-humoured impatience. "Let somebody suggest a means of prevention, then," said Jack. "You shall have mine first--the vineyards." "Perhaps that would be the best plan--" "You will miss the long shadows," Bice said doubtfully. "But we shall get them in this enchanting garden," exclaimed Mrs Leyton. "I know exactly how it will be with Arthur otherwise. Cart ropes won't drag him away when once he has begun a sketch." She had her way, as she generally had, and the eight started, a merry party to all appearance, though there were doubts and heart sinkings pressing heavily on more than one of the eight. Cartouche was left behind, to his great disgust, but too many dogs were employed in the vineyards for it to be safe to take him. "It always seems strange to me that your vineyards should be so undefended," Jack said, determined to speak to Bice. "Have you such perfect trust in the honesty of your fellow-creatures?" "Touch a grape and you will see," answered the girl briefly. "What shall I see?" "A man with a gun. And he will be quite ready to use it. The very dogs are trained to watch." "You excite my curiosity. I shall experimentalise to-day." "To-day you will be safe, because you will be with the _padrona_. But I do not advise you to try elsewhere." He noticed with vexation that her manner was abrupt, and that she evidently tried to avoid him. Had anything offended her? He determined to win her back to the easy frankness which he had found so charming that he had no mind to part with it.