Hermia's eyes sparkled. The time for her triumphant departure, it
seemed, had only been delayed. "Good news," she said quietly. "In
that case I intend flying back to 'Wake-Robin'."

A chorus of protests greeted her decision.

"You shan't, Hermia," shouted Reggie Armistead, "until either Salignac
or I have tried it out."

"You will oblige me, Reggie," replied Hermia calmly, "by minding your
own business."

"O Hermia, after falling this morning! How can you dare?" cried Miss
Van Vorst, with a genteel shudder.

"_Si Mademoiselle me permettrait_--" began Salignac.

But she waved her hand in negation and indicated the wide lawn in front
of the ruined buildings which sloped gently to the water's edge.

"Wheel it there, Salignac," in French, "and, Reggie, please go at once
and help."

Armistead's boyish face turned toward her in admiration and in protest,
but he followed Salignac without a word.

"It's folly, Hermia," added Hilda. "Something _must_ be wrong with the
thing. You remember just the other day--"