Felix worked on, chipping out the canoe.  The days passed, and the boat was nearly finished.  In a day or two now it would be launched, and soon afterwards he should commence his voyage.  He should see Aurora once more only.  He should see her, but he should not say farewell; she would not know that he was going till he had actually departed.  As he thought thus a dimness came before his eyes; his hand trembled, and he could not work.  He put down the chisel, and paused to steady himself.

Upon the other side of the stream, somewhat lower down, a yellow wood-dog had been lapping the water to quench its thirst, watching the man the while.  So long as Felix was intent upon his work, the wild animal had no fear; the moment he looked up, the creature sprang back into the underwood.  A dove was cooing in the forest not far distant, but as he was about to resume work the cooing ceased.  Then a wood-pigeon rose from the ashes with a loud clapping of wings.  Felix listened.  His hunter instinct told him that something was moving there.  A rustling of the bushes followed, and he took his spear which had been leant against the adjacent tree.  But, peering into the wood, in a moment he recognised Oliver, who, having walked off his rage, was returning.

“I though it might have been a Bushman,” said Felix, replacing his spear; “only they are noiseless.”

“Any of them might have cut me down,” said Oliver; “for I forgot my weapon.  It is nearly noon; are you coming home to dinner?”

“Yes; I must bring my tools.”

He put them in the basket, and together they returned to the rope ladder.  As they passed the Pen by the river they caught sight of the Baron in the adjacent gardens, which were irrigated by his contrivances from the stream, and went towards him.  A retainer held two horses, one gaily caparisoned, outside the garden; his master was talking with Sir Constans.

“It is Lord John,” said Oliver.  They approached slowly under the fruit-trees, not to intrude.  Sir Constans was showing the courtier an early cherry-tree, whose fruit was already set.  The dry hot weather had caused it to set even earlier than usual.  A suit of black velvet, an extremely expensive and almost unprocurable material, brought the courtier’s pale features into relief.  It was only by the very oldest families that any velvet or satin or similar materials were still preserved; if these were in pecuniary difficulties they might sell some part of their store, but such things were not to be got for money in the ordinary way.

Two small silver bars across his left shoulder showed that he was a lord-in-waiting.  He was a handsome man, with clear-cut features, somewhat rakish from late hours and dissipation, but not the less interesting on that account.  But his natural advantages were so over-run with the affectation of the Court that you did not see the man at all, being absorbed by the studied gesture to display the jewelled ring, and the peculiarly low tone of voice in which it was the fashion to speak.