as Peter. In spite of Cheriton, they would have
a good time together. And Cheriton would perhaps become friendly in
time--dear Jim, with his queer manners. People mostly did become
friendly, in quite a short time, according to Peter's experience.

That the time, as far as Cheriton was concerned, had not yet arrived, was
rather obvious, however. His manners to Peter on the sands were still
quite queer--so queer that Peter and Leslie only stayed a few minutes
more. Peter refused Urquhart's suggestion that they should have tea
together on the island, and they crossed over to the lagoon side and got
into their waiting gondola.

The lagoon waters were smooth like glass, and pale, and unflushed as yet
with the coming sunset. Dark lines of stakes marked the blue ship-ways
that ran out to open sea, and down them plied the ships, spreading
painted wings to the evening breeze.

Leslie said, "I see in the Gem that there is a good old well-head to be
had from a man on the Riva Ca' di Dio. I want well-heads, as you know.
We'll go and see, shall we?"

The crystal peace of the lagoon was shattered for Peter. He had been
getting into a curious mood of late; he almost disliked well-heads, and
other purchasable forms of beauty. After all, when one had this limpid
loveliness of smooth water and men walking on its surface like St. Peter,
why want anything more? Because, Leslie would say, one wants to possess,
to call beauty one's own. Bother, said Peter, the vice of the age, which
was certainly acquisitiveness. He was coming to the conclusion that he
hated buying things. And it was so awkward to explain to Leslie about
Hilary and the Gem. He had spent the last few days in trying, without too
much giving Hilary away, to restrain Leslie from following his advice. He
said now, "All right; we'll go and see. But, to say the truth, I'm not
sure that Hilary is a very good authority on well-heads." He blushed a
little as he said it; it seemed to him that he had been saying that sort
of thing very often of late. Leslie was so persistent, so incorrigibly
intent on his purpose.

Leslie looked at him now over his large cigar a little speculatively.

"According to you," he remarked placidly after a moment, "your brother
is uncommonly little of an authority on anything he mentions. Fraternal
scepticism developed to its highest point."

Peter nodded. "Our family way," he said; and added, "Besides, that Vyvian
man does as much of the Gem as Hilary.