was unbearably hot. The river breeze had ceased, and a hot steamy
atmosphere, thick with scents, came from the forest.

"I shall sit down here," she announced, pointing to the trunk of a
tree which had fallen long ago and was now laced across and across
by creepers and thong-like brambles. She seated herself, opened her
parasol, and looked at the river which was barred by the stems of trees.
She turned her back to the trees which disappeared in black shadow
behind her.

"I quite agree," said Mrs. Flushing, and proceeded to undo her
paint-box. Her husband strolled about to select an interesting point of
view for her. Hirst cleared a space on the ground by Helen's side, and
seated himself with great deliberation, as if he did not mean to move
until he had talked to her for a long time. Terence and Rachel were left
standing by themselves without occupation. Terence saw that the time
had come as it was fated to come, but although he realised this he
was completely calm and master of himself. He chose to stand for a few
moments talking to Helen, and persuading her to leave her seat. Rachel
joined him too in advising her to come with them.

"Of all the people I've ever met," he said, "you're the least
adventurous. You might be sitting on green chairs in Hyde Park. Are you
going to sit there the whole afternoon? Aren't you going to walk?"

"Oh, no," said Helen, "one's only got to use one's eye. There's
everything here--everything," she repeated in a drowsy tone of voice.
"What will you gain by walking?"

"You'll be hot and disagreeable by tea-time, we shall be cool and
sweet," put in Hirst. Into his eyes as he looked up at them had come
yellow and green reflections from the sky and the branches, robbing them
of their intentness, and he seemed to think what he did not say. It was
thus taken for granted by them both that Terence and Rachel proposed to
walk into the woods together; with one look at each other they turned
away.

"Good-bye!" cried Rachel.

"Good-by. Beware of snakes," Hirst replied. He settled himself still
more comfortably under the shade of the fallen tree and Helen's figure.
As they went, Mr. Flushing called after them, "We must start in an hour.
Hewet, please remember that. An hour."

Whether made by man, or for some reason preserved by nature, there was
a wide pathway striking through the forest at right angles to the river.
It resembled a drive in an English forest, save that tropical bushes
with