They had accomplished
their purpose. They had let her know they were there through compulsion,
but on her side. In that instant only pity was in Elnora's breast for
the flashing dark beauty, standing with smiling face while her heart
must have been filled with exceeding bitterness. Elnora stepped back
from the entrance.
"Come into the shade," she urged. "You must have found it warm on these
country roads. Won't you lay aside your dust-coats and have a cool
drink? Philip, would you ask mother to come, and bring that pitcher from
the spring house?"
They entered the arbour exclaiming at the dim, green coolness. There was
plenty of room and wide seats around the sides, a table in the
centre, on which lay a piece of embroidery, magazines, books, the moth
apparatus, and the cyanide jar containing several specimens. Polly
rejoiced in the cooling shade, slipped off her duster, removed her hat,
rumpled her pretty hair and seated herself to indulge in the delightful
occupation of paying off old scores. Tom Levering followed her example.
Edith took a seat but refused to remove her hat and coat, while
Henderson stood in the entrance.
"There goes something with wings! Should you have that?" cried Levering.
He seized a net from the table and raced across the garden after a
butterfly. He caught it and came back mightily pleased with himself. As
the creature struggled in the net, Elnora noted a repulsed look on Edith
Carr's face.
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