but not wholly open; for after a
while she left him under the impression that, so far from being an
orphan, she was staying with her parents in lodgings in the station
road. But she bore away from their colloquy a pleasing shilling with
which he had invited her to buy chocolate.

She walked along the esplanade somewhat disappointed that the beach
should all of it be large pebbles. She had always believed the shore
of the sea to be sand. She did not, however, repine, but walked along
to the end of it, watching the bathers and the playing children, in a
great content. Then she went down the path beyond the esplanade,
between the sea and marshes, to the mouth of the swift-flowing Otter.
She walked out over the slippery rocks to the edge of the ebbing sea,
and finding some children paddling about in a pool, joined them.

And still the lawyer and the detective ranged the wood like questing
hounds.

The pleasant feel of the warm salt water on her legs inspired Pollyooly
with larger desires. She put on her shoes and stockings and came back
to the esplanade. She soon learned that a bathing-dress and a
bathing-machine could be hired. She hired them and bathed. She bathed
for a long time, a longer time than was good for her.

And still the lawyer and the detective ranged the wood like questing
hounds.

At last she tore herself from the water, dressed, and lay on the warm
pebbles, drying her beautiful red hair in the sun. The church clock
struck twelve; slowly, but with a good appetite, she ate her
sandwiches--chicken sandwiches.

And still the lawyer and the detective ranged the wood like questing
hounds.

After her lunch Pollyooly bought herself a bottle of lemonade at a
confectioner's shop in the High Street; then once more she sought the
mouth of the Otter. There, hunting among the rocks, paddling, watching
the sea-gulls on the red cliffs beyond the stream, she enjoyed herself
greatly. It is to be doubted that a happier child could have been
found out of London.

The lawyer and the detective no longer ranged the wood like questing
hounds. They had already done all the ranging the weather permitted.
Moreover, the lawyer was not of sleuth-hound build, and the chase had
reddened his face almost to the colour of the carapace of a boiled
lobster. Unfortunately his face was not of the durable texture of a
carapace; and the skin was peeling off his nose.

They had returned to the pretty garden from which the