"Yes," rejoined Diana. "I think she is a wonderful woman. She has taken him down to the beach with her again this morning. She believes that Mr. Gayne is his nephew's enemy rather than his guardian. She believes he has some reason for desiring to blight any buddings of intelligence in the boy, and uses an outrageous method of suppression over him all the time. It would be so much easier to let it go, and most of us would, I'm sure, rather than spend vacation hours in such insipid company, or have any dealings with that--that impossible uncle; but Mrs. Lowell will not relinquish her efforts." "Yes, she is a brilliant, fearless sort of woman," said Philip. "I shouldn't wonder if she gave Gayne a disagreeable quarter of an hour before she gets through with him." "One has to exercise care, however," returned Diana, "lest the man become angered and visit his ill-humor on the boy. I am often obliged to constrain myself to civility when I yearn to hurl--" she hesitated. "Plates? Oh, do say you long to throw a plate at him!" Diana gave her remote moonbeam smile. "I must admit that 'invective' was in my mind. A rather strong word for girls to use." "A splendid word. A good long one, too. You might try hurling polysyllables at him some day and see him blink." Diana shook her head. "That sort of man is a pachyderm. He would never flinch at verbal missiles. Since you must go, I wish some other agreeable man would join our group and converse with him at table." Philip smiled. "Surely you have noticed that Miss Emerson is not averse to assuming all responsibility?" "Mr. Barrison," said Diana gravely, "I hope when I am--am elderly and unmarried, that I shall not seek to attract men." "Miss Wilbur," returned Philip, with a solemnity fitting hers, and regarding the symmetry and grace of her lovely head, "don't spend any time worrying about that; for some inner voice assures me that you will never be elderly and unmarried." "The future is on the knees of the gods," she returned serenely. "Then I don't need to lose any sleep on account of your posing for one of Mr. Gayne's wonderful sketches?" Diana brought the brown velvet of her eyes to bear fully upon him. It even seemed hopeful that a spark would glow in them. "I loathe the man," she said slowly. "Forgive me, divine one. Well, I must go now. Why won't you take me home? I should like you to meet my grandmother, and think of the pitfalls and mantraps of the island road if I risk myself alone: Bill Lindsay's Ford! Marley Hughes's bicycle! Lou Buell's gray mare taking him to mend somebody's broken pipe! Matt Blake's express wagon! Come and keep my courage up." "You have a grandmother on this island?" "I'll prove it if you'll come with me."