A day or two later Lisle stood on Gladwyne's lawn. Gladwyne entertained freely, and though his neighbors did not approve of all of his friends, the man had the gift of pleasing, and his mother unconsciously exerted a charm on every one. She rarely said anything witty, but she never said anything unkind and she would listen with a ready sympathy that sometimes concealed a lack of comprehension. Lisle had a strong respect for the calm, gracious lady, though she had won it by no more than a smile or two and a few pleasant words, and he went over to call upon her every now and then. He was interested in the company he met at her house; it struck him as worth studying; and he had a curious feeling that he was looking on at the preliminary stages of a drama in which he might presently be called upon to play a leading part. Besides, he had reasons for watching Gladwyne. The stage was an attractive one to a man who had spent much of his time in the wilderness--a wide sweep of sunlit sward with the tennis nets stretched across part of it; on one side a dark fir wood; and for a background a stretch of brown moor receding into the distance, dimmed by an ethereal haze. A group of young men and women, picturesquely clad, were busy about the nets; others in flannels and light draperies strolled here and there across the grass, and a few more had gathered about the tea-table under a spreading cedar, where Mrs. Gladwyne sat in a low wicker-chair. Over all there throbbed the low, persistent murmur of a stream. Lisle was talking to Millicent near the table. He looked up as a burst of laughter rose from beside the nets and saw Bella Crestwick walk away from them. One or two of the others stood looking after her, and Mrs. Gladwyne glanced from her chair inquiringly. "They seem amused," she said. "It was probably at one of Miss Crestwick's remarks; she's undoubtedly original," returned Millicent. "Still, I think it was chiefly Mr. Marple's laugh you heard." His voice had been most in evidence--it usually carried far--but Lisle was half amused at the disapproval in the girl's tone. "I'm afraid I'm now and then a little boisterous, too," he ventured. "It depends a good deal upon what you laugh at," Millicent informed him. Mrs. Gladwyne looked up again, as if she had not heard, and the girl smiled at her. "What I said isn't worth repeating." She moved away a pace or two and Lisle watched Bella, who glanced once or twice in his direction as she crossed the lawn. Somehow he felt that he was wanted and a little later he strolled after the girl. Millicent noticed it with a slight frown, though she did not trouble to ask herself why she was vexed. When Lisle reached Bella, she regarded him with mischief in her eyes. "As I once mentioned, you learn rapidly," she laughed. "You'll be thankful for the instruction some day, and I promise not to teach you anything very detrimental. But I'm a little surprised that Millicent Gladwyne allowed you to come."