The dream lasted for an hour, and the boy came to himself with a start, for an image, which he did not in the least wish to detain, was haunting him. He sprang up, gave himself a shake like a dog after a swim, and went slowly towards the boat-house, murmuring, as he walked, the words which had called up the unwelcome image-- A savage place! as holy and enchanted As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted By woman wailing for her demon lover! 'I wonder why that always makes me think of Vivien Leigh,' he said to himself with a perplexed smile. 'I couldn't imagine her wailing for any one, least of all a lover, demon or human. Perhaps it's because she's a little inhuman herself. I'm sure she would have been put down as a witch in the middle ages.' He began to whistle a lively air to put Vivien out of his head. Then her image was expelled by another. Her face resigned to bliss or bale-- Her face, oh call it fair not pale, And both blue eyes more bright than clear, Each about to have a tear. 'What a contrast!' he said to himself, as he stooped over his boat to loosen the painter. '_She_ is human--exquisitely, beautifully human.' At this moment he heard his mother calling him, and, tying up his boat again, he went out of the boat-house and on to the lawn. 'Tom, Tom! where are you?' She looked flushed and excited and out of breath. 'Here I am, mother!' he said. 'I thought you were at the Eltons. I was just going to take my boat round and see if any one was in. You look tired, dear. Come and sit down by the river.' 'Oh, dear! I have had such a hunt for you,' she said. 'I went in to the Eltons after lunch to get them to show me a new stitch, and the girls and their father were out; he has gone to town, for a wonder. So Lady Elton and I sat chatting about old days, forgetting altogether how the time went, and then I came in to see about your supper, and Sarah told me you had been in an hour.' 'An hour or thereabouts, and I was just going out for a stretch. Can it be time for supper already?' 'No, not quite; but----' And here she pulled up, for she perceived to her annoyance that Tom was not listening to her. 'Do you hear me, Tom?' she said. 'The post has just come in, and there is a letter----' The boy held up his hand beseechingly. 'One moment, mother!' he pleaded. 'The letter will keep and that will not.'