. She got up and called to Anthony
to come in. He came obediently. "What are you thinking of," she said,
"planting yourself out there and sneezing? I could see your shirt-front
a mile off. It's indecent of you."

"Why indecent?"

"Because Nicky and Veronica are out there."

"I don't see them."

"Do you suppose they want you to see them?"

She turned the electric light on full, to make darkness of their
twilight out there.

* * * * *

Nicky and Veronica talked together in the twilight, sitting on the seat
under the orchard well behind the privet screen. They did not see
Anthony sitting under the ash-tree, they did not hear him, they did not
hear Frances calling to him to come in. They were utterly unaware of
Frances and Anthony.

"Ronny," he said, "did Michael say anything to you?"

"When?"

"This afternoon, when he made you come with him here?"

"How do you mean, 'say anything'?"

"You know what I mean."

"_Mick_?"

"Yes. Did he ask you to marry him?"

"No. He said a lot of funny things, but he didn't say that. He
wouldn't."

"Why wouldn't he?"

"Because--he just wouldn't."

"Well, he says he understands you."

"Then," said Veronica conclusively, "of course he wouldn't."

"Yes; but he says _I_ don't."

"Dear Nicky, you understand me when nobody else does. You always did."

"Yes, when we were kids. But supposing _now_ I ever didn't, would it
matter? You see, I'm stupid, and caring--caring awfully--might make me
stupider. _Have_ people got to understand each other?"

To that she replied astonishingly, "Are you quite sure you understand
about Ferdie?"

"Ferdie?"

"Yes." She turned her face full to him. "I don't know whether you know
about it. _I_ didn't till Mother told me the other day. I'm
Ferdie's daughter.

"Did you know?"

"Oh, Lord, yes. I've known it for--oh, simply ever so long."

"Who told you?"

"Dorothy, I think. But I guessed it because of something he said once
about seeing ghosts."

"I wonder if you know how I feel about it? I want you to understand
that. I'm not a bit ashamed of it. I'm proud. I'm _glad_ I'm Ferdie's
daughter, not Bartie's.... I'd take his name, so that everybody should
know I was his daughter, only that I like Uncle Anthony's name best. I'm
glad Mother loved him."

"So am I, Ronny. I know I shouldn't have liked Bartie's daughter.
Bartie's daughter wouldn't have been you."

He took her in his arms and held her face