CHAPTER XXII.
THE ROLL CALL As in similar cases of the same disease Hamil's progress toward recovery was scarcely appreciable for a fortnight or so, then, danger of reinfection practically over, convalescence began with the new moon of May.
Other things also began about that time, including a lawsuit against Portlaw, the lilacs, jonquils, and appleblossoms in Shiela's garden, and Malcourt's capricious journeys to New York on business concerning which he offered no explanation to anybody.
The summons bidding William Van Beuren Portlaw of Camp Chickadee, town of Pride's Fall, Horican County, New York, to defend a suit for damages arising from trespass, tree-felling, the malicious diversion of the waters of Painted Creek, the wilful and deliberate killing of game, the flooding of wild meadow lands in contemptuous disregard of riparian rights and the drowning of certain sheep thereby, had been impending since the return from Florida to her pretty residence at Pride's Fall of Mrs.Alida Ascott.
Trouble had begun the previous autumn with a lively exchange of notes between them concerning the shooting of woodcock on Mrs.Ascott's side of the boundary.

Then Portlaw stupidly built a dam and diverted the waters of Painted Creek.

Having been planned, designed, and constructed according to Portlaw's own calculations, the dam presently burst and the escaping flood drowned some of Mrs.Ascott's sheep.

Then somebody cut some pine timber on her side of the line and Mrs.Ascott's smouldering indignation flamed.
Personally she and Portlaw had been rather fond of one another; and to avoid trouble incident on hot temper Alida Ascott decamped, intending to cool off in the Palm Beach surf and think it over; but she met Portlaw at Palm Beach that winter, and Portlaw dodged the olive branch and neglected her so selfishly that she determined then and there upon his punishment, now long overdue.
"My Lord!" said Portlaw plaintively to Malcourt, "I had no idea she'd do such a thing to me; had you ?" "Didn't I tell you she would ?" said Malcourt.

"I know women better than you do, though you don't believe it." "But I thought she was rather fond of me!" protested Portlaw indignantly.
"That may be the reason she's going to chasten you, friend.