“Do you know this outing is doing you a world of good already?” said Doctor Churchill, noting with approval the fresh colour in Charlotte’s face.

“I know it is.  I didn’t realise that I needed it a bit until I actually found myself here, with nothing to do except rest and play.  It’s doing everybody good.  You should have heard the plans at breakfast to-day.  Although it’s been so hot, nobody has been idle a minute.  I’ve been fishing all day with Lanse and Fred and Celia.  Andy, do you know what I think?  I admit I didn’t think it till Lanse put it into my head, but I believe he’s right.  Fred——­”

“Is going to want Celia?  Of course.  That was a foregone conclusion from the start.”

“Andy Churchill, you weren’t so discerning as all that, when not even I thought it was serious with either of them!  Celia’s had so many admirers, and turned them all aside so coolly—­and Mr. Frederic Forester is such an accomplished person at paying attentions—­how could I think it meant anything?  But Lanse insists Celia is different from what she ever was before, and I don’t know but he’s right.”

“To be sure he’s right.  Next to you, I never saw a more attractive young person than Celia.  What a charming colour you have, child!  To be sure, you have burned the tip of that small Greek nose a very little, but I find even that adorable.  Charlotte, stop pinching my arm.  If you’re half as glad to have me get here as I am to arrive, you’re pretty happy.  I laid stern commands on Mrs. Fields not to telephone, unless it were a matter of absolute necessity, so I’m pretty sure of not being disturbed.”

They found supper laid on the piazza, and enjoyed it with keen appetites.  Afterward they spent an hour drifting on the river, followed by a long and delightful evening on the lawn at the river bank.  Celia and Lanse picked the strings of violin and viola, and the others sang.  Doctor Forester, in his white clothes lay stretched on a rustic seat, and professed himself to be having “the time of his life.”

“I don’t think the rest of us are far behind you,” declared Lanse.  “If you people had been digging away at law in a hot old office you’d think this was Paradise.”

Evelyn, looking out over the moonlit river, drew a little sigh which she meant nobody to hear, but Jeff divined it, and whispered, under cover of an extravaganza from Just in regard to the night, the company, and the occasion, “You’re coming again next summer, you know.  And all winter we’ll write about it—­shall we?”

“Do you think you will have time to write?” she asked.

“Have time!  I should say I would make time,” he murmured.  “Think I’m going to stand having this sort of thing cut off short?  I guess not—­unless—­you’re the one who hasn’t time.  And even then I don’t think I could be kept from boring you with letters.”

“I shall certainly want to hear what you all are doing,” she answered.