Harry yawned and fidgeted, for sitting long in one position tired him; so Tom and Juke carried him to a cane lounge on the verandah before the rest of us had had dessert. I was annoyed with Phyllis for running out to get pillows, which were already there, and for not returning when she had made her brother comfortable. Emily had the grace to remain at table, and of course Lily stayed also. She is a most intelligent child, voracious for information of all sorts; and she plied our guest with so many questions, and amused him so much by her interest in his adventures, that she made him forget the strawberries on his plate and how time was going--forgetting herself that the poor servants were wanting to clear away so that they might get out for their Sunday walk. At last he finished, and I led the way to the verandah, where I expected to find the others. But only Harry and his father were there, the boy looking rather fagged and inclined to doze, and Tom--who has no manners--placidly sucking at his pipe. "Why, where is Phyllis?" I inquired. "Kitchen," said Harry promptly, opening his eyes. "And the doctor?" "Gone off to a patient." "Then," said I, "come and let me show you my roses, Mr. Gale;" and I took his arm. I thought it a good opportunity to have a little quiet talk with him on my own account. Afterwards I remembered that my husband and son watched us rather anxiously as we sauntered off into the garden, but I did not notice it at the time. It never crossed my mind that they could deliberately conspire to deceive me. I had had the garden tidied, and, in the first flush of the summer bloom, it looked really beautiful--although I say it. I would not have been ashamed to show it to the Queen herself. And our rustic cottage, that we had continually been adding to and improving ever since it came, a mere shanty, into our hands, was a study for a painter, with the yellow banksia in perfection, quite hiding the framework of the verandah. I halted my companion on the front lawn, at the prettiest point of view. "A humble little place," I remarked; "but I think I may say for it, without undue vanity, that it looks like the home of gentlefolks." He followed my gaze, and fixed his eyes upon the particular window which I informed him belonged to Phyllis's room. "What's she doing?" he inquired bluntly. He could not conceal his impatience for her return.