She parted from them gaily, taking her immense happiness with her unbroken, for once stepping clear out of the day into sleep with it wrapped round her. But now, when she looked back for that day, it was a million miles behind her, floating unsubstantially like a wisp of shining mist: and all that returned to her out of it, clear and whole, were two detached impressions which, at the time, had barely brushed her consciousness: the look of young lilac-leaves with the sun on them, glittering above the garden-gate where she had bidden them good-bye; and the expression she had surprised on Mariella’s face some time in that day,--but when, she had forgotten. Whatever had disturbed Mariella’s face then, it had not been happiness. The other faces, even Roddy’s, had unaccountably become blurred in the mist; but Mariella’s came back again and again, as if to stress the significance of its momentary defencelessness; as if, could it only be solved, there, in a flash, would be the whole clue to Mariella. * * * * * She got up and studied her hair in the mirror above the mantelpiece. While she stared there came a tap on the window behind her. She turned and there was Roddy peering through the pane and laughing at her. She ran to the window and opened it. ‘Roddy!’ It did not seem possible that he should have come when she wanted him so badly. ‘I’ve knocked twice. You were too busy to hear me.’ ‘I’ve put my hair up.’ ‘It’s ravishing. Will you please come in it to a fireworks party which Martin is giving in about an hour’s time?’ ‘Fireworks! of all heavenly things! Hurrah for Martin!’ ‘He only thought of it this afternoon, and he dashed into the town and bought up the whole stock. He sent me to fetch you. He says he must have you. Julian’s terrified of the big rocket and he wants you to persuade him to light it. And you’re to stay to supper afterwards. Mariella’s away for the night. Can you face it?’ ‘Oh, how glorious!’ He gave her a hand and she jumped out of the window. Roddy was in his best mood. He was friendly and talkative; his face was almost wide awake; his very hair looked alert, ruffled about his forehead; and he was sunburnt and clear-eyed, at his ease in grey flannels and yellow shirt and an ancient navy-blue coat. The river had an enchanted beauty and stillness in the half-light. It was moon-coloured, with a dying flush in it; faint opal flickers lit the ripples that broke away on either side of the canoe. ‘It won’t be dark enough for a while, yet,’ said Roddy. ‘They’ll wonder where I am.’ ‘Why? Didn’t you tell them?’ ‘They didn’t know I’d slip off so soon.’ She blushed. It really looked as if Roddy had come early in order to have a little time alone with her. He would not say so; but he twinkled and smiled so gaily that she smiled back at him, as if giving him secret for delightful secret. ‘They’ll tease me,’ he declared. ‘No. Will they?’ ‘Yes, I assure you----’ ‘How silly!’