And of course Phebe had to go." True enough, Phebe was as essential to any picnic as the feast, though much less obtrusively so, and Gerald watched her friend's quiet helpfulness with lazy interest.

She herself was stretched at ease on the clean, fresh grass under some glorious old trees.

The place chosen was a lovely spot at the head of the lake; the drive there had been long and hot, and now she lay enjoying to the full the refreshment of the shadow and the breeze, and the perfection both of the view and of her immediate surroundings.

Bell Masters sat near her, having discovered that she was generally surest of Mr.De Forest's company when in Gerald's neighborhood.

Nor had she been mistaken this time.