"Hush! Don't bother to talk now, Miss Ethel," said Caroline. "You are all right now." "You are sure you have not broken any bones?" said Wilson. "Bones? No." Miss Ethel was recovering herself quickly. "It's nothing. I shall be all right in a minute or two. Here, give me your hand, Caroline." "I daresay you tripped over a brick, Miss Ethel; I very nearly did," said Caroline, helping her to rise. "Yes, that was it, that was it!" said Miss Ethel, speaking with a sort of exhausted eagerness. At first as they went up the field she held Wilson's arm, but soon released it and went forward alone. "I'm all right now," she insisted. "Quite all right." Mrs. Bradford came out into the hall as they entered, and billows of salt mist followed them in. "Shut the door, please," she said. "Then you were not lost, Ethel. What on earth were you doing out there? I began to get quite uneasy about you." Miss Ethel, turning quickly, gave a look at the two who followed her, but she herself had no idea of its pathos and urgency. "I just tripped on a brick and was stunned for a few minutes--nothing to matter." So Caroline and Wilson knew they were to let it go at that. "And had the men gone?" said Mrs. Bradford. "Yes." She paused. "I thought I would just have a look round." "You are so restless, Ethel; why can't you keep quiet like me?" said Mrs. Bradford fretfully. "It is a great mercy you didn't break a leg." Caroline went out of the room to make a cup of tea for Miss Ethel, and when she was lighting the gas-ring Wilson came in hurriedly, saying in a low voice: "I say, you won't mention anything about leaving them to-night, will you!" "What do you take me for?" whispered Caroline back. "A girl with her head screwed on the right way," he said. "Then you'll stay and look after them for a little while longer, anyway? I may tell Miss Temple that, may I?" "You can tell who you like. I shall not mention leaving until Miss Ethel is better," said Caroline. "Good girl! And I won't forget the typewriting machine," he answered. "One good turn deserves another. That sounds like Miss Panton, doesn't it?" And with that he hurried out of the kitchen. _Chapter VIII_ _The Height of the Season_ The sea-roke lasted for nearly two days and then lifted, the damp, chill air giving place to cloudless sunshine. But even now, when the sun was setting, no cool wind blew in from the sea across the promenade thronged with people in thin dresses. This was so unusual in Thorhaven that those familiar with the place kept saying to each other at intervals: "Fancy being able to sit here at this hour without a coat! The air from the sea puffs into your face as if it came out of an oven----"