pier than he had expected to be again, and was not disposed to question his happiness, but he was less overwhelmed by it, much more conscious of the world about him, and when the tea-gong sounded he was glad to hear it, whereas Valerie had forgotten there was a world in which tea was served.
He got to his feet and pulled her up to him.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Tea, dear.”
“Oh! Are we really on the earth? I must wake up.”
“Don’t. You are very charming asleep. You remember I fell from grace the very first time I saw you so.”
She flashed a brilliant smile at him. “So you did. It was mean to steal a march on me like that.”
They came out upon the path and hand in hand went up the verandah steps.
It did not surprise Lee in the least to find them both in the hammock. Valerie could not see that any signal passed between him and Dane. But the boy stayed to pour for them. With perceptions of his own he had put on the tray valuable little vermilion cups that Dane never used for himself. That was the only sign he gave that he understood this was an occasion. He enquired solemnly of Valerie as to her taste in sugar and cream. He handed them their cups and the biscuit jar. He put the table beside the hammock and transferred smoking apparatus to it. Then he moved off like a leaf going by on the wind.
Dane looked after him with huge appreciation. “Perfect, isn’t he?” he said.
“I think they’re both wonderful. But then everything about you is. Where did you get them?”
“I found them in China and arranged to have them come out to me. I couldn’t live without them now.”
