es were ripe; and seeing the bed covered with netting--to keep
off the birds"--she smiled--"she thought it very hard that the poor
little things should not have their share."

"You had heaps and heaps for yourself," came a reproachful voice from
the bottom of the table where Cherry sat in state.

"Certainly--until you came on the scene, Cherry Ripe! Well, Dr. Anstice,
to cut a long story short, Cherry thought us so selfish and cruel to
prevent the poor birds sharing our fruit that she slipped into the
kitchen garden one very hot morning, and devoted a good hour to taking
up the netting--with the result that the stooping down with the sun
beating on her head gave her a touch of sunstroke."

"You forget I had eaten a few strawberries--just to encourage the
birdies." Evidently Cherry liked accuracy in any statement, even when it
militated against herself.

"Well, whether it was the sun or the strawberries, the fact remains
Cherry was in bed for three days, and since then strawberries are
_tabu_. Isn't it so, Mrs. Carstairs?"

"Yes, Iris." Chloe's voice was more weary than usual, as though the
subject did not interest her; and suddenly Anstice remembered that
during the previous summer she had been shut away from the beautiful
world of sun and strawberries and roses red and white....

A moment later Chloe rose from the table; and Anstice stole a look at
his watch as they passed into the hall.

As though she divined his action Chloe turned to him.

"You will spare time for a cup of coffee? We have not lingered over our
lunch."

Anstice hesitated, and Cherry again added her entreaties to the
invitation.

"Do stay a little longer, my dear. Iris will have to go in a minute, but
I want her to sing me a song first."

"Do you sing, Miss Wayne?" Looking at her firm round throat and deep
chest he thought it possible she sang well.

"Yes." She shook her head at Cherry. "But how can I sing after meringues
and strawberries, you bad child?"

"You always say that," returned Cherry placidly. "And then you sing most
bee-autifully!"

Iris coloured at this obviously genuine compliment and Anstice laughed
outright.

"After that testimonial, Miss Wayne, I hope you don't expect me to run
away without hearing you!" He turned to his hostess. "I will stay for a
cup of coffee with pleasure, Mrs. Carstairs, and you will persuade Miss
Wayne to sing, won't you?"

"Certainly." They were in the cool, hyacinth-scented drawing-room by