However, when he could no longer doubt it, and when the lurking

figures and faces of at least two of the men who dogged him everywhere

had become sufficiently familiar to him, he wrote a short note to his

wife asking for an explanation.

But he got none--principally because his wife had already sailed.

The effect of Winifred's letters on an impressionable, sensitive, and

self-distrustful character, was never very quickly effaced.

Whatever was morbid in the man became apparent after he had received

such letters, and took the form of a quiet withdrawal from the circles

which he affected, until such time as mortification and shame had

subsided.

He had written briefly to Athalie saying that business would take him

out of town for a few weeks. Which it did as a matter of fact, landing

him at Spring Pond, Long Island, where he completed the purchase of

the Greensleeve tavern and took title in his own name.

Old Ledlie had died; his only heir appeared to be glad enough to sell;

the title was free and clear; the possibilities of the place

fascinating.

Clive prowled around the place in two minds whether he might venture

to call in a local builder and have him strip the protuberances from

the house, which was all that was necessary to restore it to its

original form; or whether he ought to leave that for Athalie to

manage.

But there remained considerable to be done; May was in full bud and

blossom already; and if Athalie was to enjoy the place at all that

summer it ought to be made livable.

So Clive summoned several people to his aid with the following quick

results: A New York general contractor took over the entire job

guaranteeing quick results or forfeiture. A local nurseryman and an

emergency gang started in. They hedged the entire front with privet

for immediate effect, cleared, relocated, and restored the ancient

flower garden on its quaint original lines; planted its borders

thickly with old time perennials, peonies, larkspurs, hollyhocks,

clove pinks, irises, and lilies; replanted the rose beds with

old-fashioned roses, set the wall beds with fruit trees and gay

annuals, sodded, trimmed, raked, levelled, cleaned up, and pruned,

until the garden was a charming and logical thing.

Fortunately the newness was not apparent because the old stucco walls

remained laden with wistaria and honeysuckle, and the alley of ancient

box trees required clipping only.

In the centre of the lawn he built a circular pool and piped the water

from Spring Brook. It fell in a slender jet, icy cold, powdering pool,

basin and grass with spray.

Where half-dead locust and cedar trees had to be felled Clive set tall

arbor vitae and soft maples. He was an expensive young man where

Athalie's pleasure was concerned; and as he worked there in the lovely

May weather his interest and enthusiasm grew with every fresh fragrant

spadeful of brown earth turned.




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