food here--of course, with an
invalid, one wants things particularly nice." And she hurried past them
in search of the head waiter. The worry of nursing her husband had fixed
a plaintive frown upon her forehead; she was pale and looked unhappy and
more than usually inefficient, and her eyes wandered more vaguely than
ever from point to point.

"Poor thing!" Mrs. Thornbury exclaimed. She told them that for some
days Hughling Elliot had been ill, and the only doctor available was the
brother of the proprietor, or so the proprietor said, whose right to the
title of doctor was not above suspicion.

"I know how wretched it is to be ill in a hotel," Mrs. Thornbury
remarked, once more leading the way with Rachel to the garden. "I spent
six weeks on my honeymoon in having typhoid at Venice," she continued.
"But even so, I look back upon them as some of the happiest weeks in my
life. Ah, yes," she said, taking Rachel's arm, "you think yourself happy
now, but it's nothing to the happiness that comes afterwards. And I
assure you I could find it in my heart to envy you young people! You've
a much better time than we had, I may tell you. When I look back upon
it, I can hardly believe how things have changed. When we were engaged
I wasn't allowed to go for walks with William alone--some one had always
to be in the room with us--I really believe I had to show my parents all
his letters!--though they were very fond of him too. Indeed, I may say
they looked upon him as their own son. It amuses me," she continued,
"to think how strict they were to us, when I see how they spoil their
grand-children!"

The table was laid under the tree again, and taking her place before
the teacups, Mrs. Thornbury beckoned and nodded until she had collected
quite a number of people, Susan and Arthur and Mr. Pepper, who were
strolling about, waiting for the tournament to begin. A murmuring tree,
a river brimming in the moonlight, Terence's words came back to Rachel
as she sat drinking the tea and listening to the words which flowed on
so lightly, so kindly, and with such silvery smoothness. This long life
and all these children had left her very smooth; they seemed to have
rubbed away the marks of individuality, and to have left only what was
old and maternal.

"And the things you young people are going to see!" Mrs. Thornbury
continued. She included them all in her forecast, she included them all
in her maternity, although the party comprised William P