on his father's shoulder. Elspeth kissed the back of his neck, which was the only place she could reach.
"Let's go up into my room," said Jim, "and talk a bit."
He reached out for his hat as he passed the table, then went on up the stairs.
"That will be hard to mend," said Elspeth. "Poor dear person! I believe he'd never thought of such a possibility."
Late sunshine filled the quiet room above with golden light. Mellow bands spread an amber patch across the smooth old floor, slightly uneven beneath the round braid rugs, and a warm reflection touched the low white ceiling. The windows under the eaves looked to a wide, tranquil vista of shimmering bay and misty shore; the white curtains scarcely stirred in the faint land breeze. Jim sat down in the big armchair beside his desk, on which lay many scattered papers, gilded by the streaming sunlight. He held Garth, who kept his face hidden upon the comforting shoulder. Jim rubbed his cheek now and then against Garth's hair, but did not speak. And so they sat there for a long time, while the water clucked below at the foot of the tower and the sunshine crept slowly up the wall.
