"Good night."
He went on standing against the bulwark watching her, as she was pulled ashore in the little boat.
The sun had gone behind the trees, and the creek was in shadow.
The last of the ebb had run away from the flats, and the water was still.
A curlew called once, out of sight, round the bend of the river.
The ship, with its bold colouring, its raking masts, looked remote, unreal, a thing of fantasy.
She turned, and sped through the trees towards the house, smiling guiltily to herself, like a child hugging a secret.
CHAPTER VII
When she came to the house she saw that William was standing by the window of the salon, making a pretence of putting the room in order, but she knew at once he had been watching for her.
She would not tell him immediately, for the fun of teasing him, and coming into the room, casting her kerchief from her head, she said,
"I have been walking, William, my head is better."
"So I observe, my lady," he said, his eyes upon her.
"I walked by the river, where it is quiet and cool."
"Indeed, my lady."
"I had no knowledge of the creek before.
It is enchanting, like a fairy-tale. A good hiding-place, William, for fugitives like myself."
"Very probably, my lady."
"And my Lord Godolphin, did you see him?"
"His lordship was not at home, my lady.
I bade his servant give your flowers and the message to his lady."
"Thank you, William."
She paused a moment, pretending to arrange the sprigs of lilac in their vase, and then,
"Oh, William, before I forget. I am giving a small supper party tomorrow night.
The hour is rather late, ten o'clock."
"Very well, my lady.
How many will you be?"
"Only two, William.
Myself and one other - a gentleman."
"Yes, my lady."
"The gentleman will be coming on foot, so there is no need for the groom to stay up and mind a horse."
"No, my lady."
"Can you cook, William?"
"I am not entirely ignorant of the art, my lady."
"Then you shall send the servants to bed, and cook supper for the gentleman and myself, William."
"Yes, my lady."
"And you need not mention the visit to anyone in the house, William."
"No, my lady."
"In fact, William, I propose to behave outrageously."
"So it would seem, my lady."
"And you are dreadfully shocked, William?"
"No, my lady."
"Why not, William?"
"Because nothing you or my master ever did could possibly shock me, my lady."
And at this she burst out laughing, and clasped her hands together.
"Oh, William, my solemn William, then you guessed all the time!
How did you know, how could you tell?"
"There was something about your walk, as you entered just now, my lady, that gave you away.
And your eyes were - if I may say so without giving offence - very much alive.
And coming as you did from the direction of the river I put two and two together, as it were, and said to myself:
'It has happened. They have met at last.' "