Professor's
garden, they paused and took in the view. It was unspeakably beautiful
from there, rolling away towards the splendid old house, which could
only just be distinguished through the giant trees, not yet in leaf. And
suddenly, hardly twenty yards from them across the gulf, coming from the
gap in Mr. Carlyon's hedge, they saw a tall and very slender
mouse-colored figure, as Halcyone emerged on her homeward way--she had
run down to see Cheiron when her duties with Miss Roberta were over, and
was now going back to lunch.

"Good morning!" called John Derringham, and the four advanced to the
very edge of their side, and Halcyone turned and also bordered hers,
while she bowed serenely.

"Isn't it a day of the gods!" he continued. "And may I from across this
Stygian lake (there was a little water collected in the haw-haw here
from the recent rains) introduce Miss Lutworth to you--and Miss Clinker
and Lord Freynault? Miss Halcyone La Sarthe."

Everyone bowed, and Halcyone smiled her sweet, grave smile.

"We would love to jump over--or you come to us," Cora Lutworth said with
her frank, friendly charm. "Isn't there any way?"

"I am afraid not," responded Halcyone. "You are across in another
world--we live in the shades, this side."

"Remember something about a fellow named Orpheus getting over to fetch
his girl"--"gail" Lord Freynault pronounced it--"since old John will use
Eton cribs in describing the horrid chasm. Can't we sop old Cerberus and
somehow manage to swim, if there is no ferryman about?"

"You would certainly be drowned," said Halcyone. "In this place the lake
is quite ten inches deep!"

Cora Lutworth was taking in every bit of her with her clever, kindly
eyes.

"What a sweet, distinguished violet-under-the-mossy-bank pet of a girl!"
she was saying to herself. "No wonder Mr. Derringham goes to see his
Professor! How mad Cis would be! I shan't tell her." And aloud she said:

"You cannot imagine how I am longing to get a nearer peep of your
beautiful old house. Do we get a chance further on?"

"No," said Halcyone. "I am so sorry. You branch further off once you
have passed the closed gate. It was very stupid--the La Sarthe quarreled
with the Wendovers a hundred years ago, and it was all closed up then,
and these wicked spikes put."

"It is too tantalizing. But won't you walk with us to where we have to
part?" Miss Lutworth said, while John Derringham had a sudden longing to
turn back and careful