d tucked away in twos in the
dark corners of the piazzas out of reach of the lights and the
inquisitive--in short, all the diversions known to such retreats, so
necessary for warding off ennui and thus inducing the inmates to stay
the full length of their commitments.

In its selection Max was guided by two considerations: it was near
Yardley--this would materially aid in Lucy's being able to join
him--and it was not fashionable and, therefore, not likely to be
overrun with either his own or Lucy's friends. The amusements did not
interest him; nor did they interest Lucy. Both had seen too much and
enjoyed too much on the other side of the water, at Nice, at Monte
Carlo, and Biarritz, to give the amusements a thought. What they wanted
was to be let alone; this would furnish all the excitement either of
them needed. This exclusiveness was greatly helped by the red and
yellow drag, with all its contiguous and connecting impedimenta, a
turnout which never ceased to occupy everybody's attention whenever the
small tiger stood by the heads of the satin-coated grays awaiting the
good pleasure of his master and his lady. Its possession not only
marked a social eminence too lofty for any ordinary habitue to climb to
unless helped up by the proffered hand of the owner, but it prevented
anyone of these would-be climbers from inviting either its owner or his
companion to join in other outings no matter how enjoyable. Such
amusements as they could offer were too simple and old-fashioned for
two distinguished persons who held the world in their slings and who
were whirling it around their heads with all their might. The result
was that their time was their own.

They filled it at their pleasure.

When the tide was out and the sand hard, they drove on the beach,
stopping at the new station, chatting with Captain Holt or Archie; or
they strolled north, always avoiding the House of Refuge--that locality
had too many unpleasant associations for Lucy, or they sat on the
dunes, moving back out of the wet as the tide reached them, tossing
pebbles in the hollows, or gathering tiny shells, which Lucy laid out
in rows of letters as she had done when a child. In the afternoon they
drove by way of Yardley to see how Ellen was getting on, or idled about
Warehold, making little purchases at the shops and chatting with the
village people, all of whom would come out to greet them. After dinner
they would generally betake themselves to Max's portic