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t； her father from making a fool of himself）； was in many respects as innocent and as natural as a girl should be。 She had only spoken naturally when she had said that she was glad he was to be of the riverside partywhen she had implied by her tone that she was sorry that two whole days were bound to pass before he should arrive。
What was there in all that she had said； to make such a man as he vain in all that she had implied？ If she had been six years old instead of twenty…three； she would probably have told him that she loved him。 The innocence of the child would have made her outspoken； but would his vanity have been fostered by the confession？ It was the charming naturalness of the girl that had caused her to speak out what it was but natural she should feel。 She and he had liked each other from the first； and it was quite natural that she should be glad to see him at Hurley。
That was what he thought as he strolled to his rooms preparatory to dressing for some function of the night。 He flattered himself that he was able to look at any situation straight in the face； so to speak。 He flattered himself that he was not a man to be led away by vanity。 He was； as a rule； on very good terms with himself； but he was rather inclined to undervalue than overestimate the distinction which he enjoyed among his fellow…men。 And the result of his due consideration of his last meeting with Phyllis was to make him feel that he had never met a girl who was quite so nice； but he also felt that； if he were to assume from the gladness which she had manifested not merely at being with him that day； but at the prospect of meeting him up the river； that he had made an impression upon her heart； he would be assuming too much。
But all the same； he could not help wishing that Ella had asked him to go to The Mooring on Tuesday rather than Thursday； and he felt when Tuesday arrived that the hot and dusty town with its ceaseless roll of gloomy festivities contained nothing for him that he would not willingly part withal in exchange for an hour or two beside the still waters of the Thames in the neighborhood of Hurley。
Stephen Linton had bought The Mooring when his wife had taken a fancy to it the previous year； when she had had an attack of that river fever which sooner or later takes hold upon Londoners； making them ready to sell all their possessions and encamp on the banks of the Thames。 It had been a great delight to her to furnish that lovely old house according to her taste； making each room a picture of consistency in decoration and furniture； and it had been a great delight to her to watch the garden being laid out after the most perfect eighteenth…century pattern； with its green terraces and clipped hedges。 She had gone so far as to live in the house for close upon a whole fortnight the previous autumn。 Since that time the caretaker had found it a trifle too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer； he had complained to Mrs。 Linton。 But she knew that there is no pleasing caretakers； she had not been put out of favor with the place； she hoped to spend at least a week under its roof before the end of the season； and perhaps another week before starting for Scotland in the autumn。
She suddenly came to the conclusion one day that her husband was not looking wella conclusion which was certainly well founded。 She declared that a few days up the river was precisely what would restore him to robust health。 （But here it is to be feared her judgment was in error。） He had been thinking too much about the new development of the mine and the property surrounding it at Taragonda Creek。 What did his receiving a couple of hundred thousand pounds matter if his health were jeopardized； she inquired of him one day； wearing the anxious face of the Good Wife。
He had smiled that curious smile of his；it was becoming more curious every day；and had said：
〃What； indeed！〃
〃Up the river we shall go； and I'll get Phyllis to come with us to amuse youyou know that you like Phyllis；〃 his wife cried。
〃There is no one I like better than Phyllis；〃 he had said。
And so the matter had been settled。
But during the day or two that followed this settlement； Ella came upon several of her friends who she found were looking a trifle fagged through the pressure of the season； and she promptly invited them to The Mooring； so that she had a party of close upon a dozen persons coming to her housesome for a day； some for as long as three days； commencing with the Tuesday when she and Phyllis went off together。 Mr。 Linton had promised to join the party toward the end of the week。
And that was how it came about that Herbert Courtland found himself daily admiring the cleverness of Phyllis Ayrton when she had the punt pole in her hands。 He also admired the gradual tinting of her fair face； through the becoming exertion of taking the punt up the lovely backwater or on to the placid reaches beyond。 Sometimes the punt contained three or four of the party in addition to Herbert； but twice he was alone with her； and shared his admiration of her with no one。
CHAPTER XXXI。
YOU MAY TRUST MR。 COURTLAND。
Mrs。 Linton was greatly amusedshe certainly was surprised。 The surprises were natural； but the amusement was not quite logical。 It was； however； quite natural that her gueststwo of them excepted should be amused when they observed her surprise。
Could anything be funnier； one of these guests asked another in a whisper； than Mrs。 Linton's chagrin on finding that her own particular Sir Lancelot had discovered an Elaine for himself？
Of course the guest who was so questioned agreed that nothing could possibly be funnier； and they both laughed in unison。 If people cannot derive innocent fun from watching the disappointment of their hostess； in what direction may the elements of mirth be found？
It was agreed that Mrs。 Linton had invited Herbert Courtland up the river for her own special entertainmentthat she had expected him to punt her up the river highways and the backwater by…ways； while Phyllis Ayrton and the rest of her guests looked after themselves； or looked after Mrs。 Linton's husband； but it appeared that Herbert Courtland had not been consulted on this subject； the result being that Mrs。 Linton's arrangements had been thrown into confusion。
The consensus of opinion among the guests was to the effect that Mrs。 Linton's arrangements had been thrown very much awry indeed。 But then the guests were amused； and as it is getting more and more difficult every year to amuse one's guests； especially those forming a house… party at a season when nothing lends itself to laughter； Mrs。 Linton would have had every reason to congratulate herself upon the success of her party； had she been made aware of the innocent mirth which prevailed for some days among her guests。
She would possibly have been greatly diverted also at the overshrewdness of her guests； who were； of course； quite ignorant of the conversation regarding Phyllis Ayrton which had immediately preceded her invitation to Herbert to spend a few days on the river。
But though Ella had undoubtedly given Herbert to understand that she was anxious to have him at The Mooring while Phyllis was there； in order that he might have an opportunity of seeing more of her； and to obtain his agreement that her theory that the man who truly loves a woman should be ready to marry that woman's dearest friend； still it must be confessed that she was surprised to observe the course adopted by both Phyllis and Herbert。 She had expected that all her tact and diplomacy would be required in order to bring the young peoplewith all the arrogance of the wife of twenty…six years of age she alluded to a girl of twenty…three and a man of thirty…two as the young people together。
She had had visions of sitting in the stern of an out…rigger built for two； remonstrating with Herberthe would of course be at the oars for choosing to paddle her up the river while he allowed some of the other men to carry off Phyllis in； say； the Canadian canoe。 A picture had come before her of the aggrieved expression upon the face of Herbert when she would insist on his going out by the side of Phyllis to feed the peacocks on the terraces in the twilight； and she had more than once seemed to hear his sigh of resignation as she； with a firmness which she would take pains to develop； pleaded a headache so that he and Phyllis might play a game of billiards together。
She soon found out that her imagination had not been prophetic。 Immediately after drinking teait was a few minutes past sixon the evening of the arrival of Herbert； she went out of doors to find him and give him a lecture on the need there was for him to refrain from waiting about the garden far from the other guests until she； Ella； could go on the river with him for a quiet drift before dinner； the other guests would certainly think him worse than rude； she was ready to explain。 The explanation was not needed； she learned that Mr。 Courtland had just taken Miss Ayrton out in one of the punts。
Of course she was pleasedafter an hour by the side of her husband to perceive that Herbert had lost no time in making an effort to prove to her how amply he recognized her object in asking him