ForamomentMrs。Horncastlewasspeechlessandvacillating。ShehadoftennoticedbeforethatitwaspartoftheironyofthecreationofsuchasimplenatureasBarker’sthathewasnotonlyopentodeceit，butabsolutelyseemedtoinviteit。Insteadofmakingothersfranker，peoplewereinclinedtorebukehiscredulitybyrestraintandequivocationontheirownpart。Buttheevasionthusofferedtoher，althoughonlytemporary，wasatemptationshecouldnotresist。Anditprolongedaninterviewthataruthlessrevelationofthetruthmighthaveshortened。
\"Shedidnottellmeshewasgoingthere，\"sherepliedstillevasively；\"and，indeed，\"sheadded，withaburstofcandorstillmoredangerous，\"Ionlylearneditfromthehotelclerkaftershewasgone。ButIwanttotalktoyouaboutherrelationstoVanLoo，\"shesaid，withareturnofherformerintensityofgaze，\"andIthoughtwewouldbelesssubjecttointerruptionherethanatthehotel。OnlyIsupposeeverybodyknowsthisplace，andanyofthoseflirtingcouplesarelikelytocomehere。Besides，\"sheadded，withalittlehalf-hystericallaughandaslightshiver，asshelookedupatthehighinterlacingboughsaboveherhead，\"it’saspublicastheaislesofachurch，andreallyonefeelsasifonewere’speakingout’inmeeting。Isn’ttheresomeotherspotalittlemoresecluded，wherewecouldsitdown，\"shewenton，asshepokedherparasolintotheusualblackgunpowderydepositofearthwhichmingledwiththecarpetofpine-needlesbeneathherfeet，\"andnotgetallstickyanddirty？\"
Barker’seyessparkled。\"Iknoweveryfootofthishill，Mrs。
Horncastle，\"hesaid，\"andifyouwillfollowmeI’lltakeyoutooneoftheloveliestnooksyoueverdreamedof。It’sanoldIndianspringnowforgotten，andIthinkknownonlytomeandthebirds。
It’snotmorethantenminutesfromhere；only\"——hehesitatedashecaughtsightofthesmartFrenchbronzebuckledshoeandsilkenanklewhichMrs。Horncastle’sgatheringupofherdaintyskirtsaroundherhaddisclosed——\"itmaybealittleroughanddustygoingtoyourfeet。\"