Nigel’s pleasant, friendly voice seemed to reach her from a long way off. “I’ve told her that you will bring her across to Ardnashee next week and make a day of it. Bring Meg, too, if she will come,” he added. “Of course she’ll come,” Hester said. She had been standing near Tessa, not speaking, but ever watchful, making sure that nothing went wrong with her plans. “Andrew and Meg have always liked a day at Ardnashee.” “Tessa can bring her sketching-block,” Nigel smiled. “She has refused, point-blank, to come out with the guns.” “I don’t blame her,” Celia Craven remarked. “I don’t like to see the birds come down, either.” “Yet you’ll quite cheerfully wear a pheasant’s tail feather in your hat,” Alice Walsh pointed out sardonically. “That’s different,” Celia declared. “But why, darling?” Alice persisted. “You really ought to be prepared to explain such a rash statement, you know! I shall certainly come with the guns, Nigel,” she added, turning to her host.
