Though he kept up his talk with Minnie in the summer-house, Harry
Bartlett's attention was very plainly not on his present companion nor
the conversation. At any other time Minnie Webb would have noticed it
and taxed him with it, but now, she, too, had her attention centered
elsewhere. She watched eagerly the group about the big machine, and
her eyes followed the figure of a man who descended from the rear seat
and made his way out along a path that led to a quiet spot.

"I think I'll go in now," murmured Minnie Webb. "I have to see - "
Bartlett was not listening. In fact he was glad of the diversion, for
he saw Viola Carwell turn with what he thought was impatience aside
from Captain Poland, and that was the very chance the other young man
had been waiting for.

He followed Minnie Webb from the little pavilion, paying no attention
to where she drifted. But he made his way through the press of persons
to where Viola stood, and he saw her eyes light up as he approached.
His, too, seemed brighter.

"I was wondering if you would come to see dad win," she murmured to him,
as he took her hand, and Captain Poland, with a little bow, stepped back.

"You knew I'd come, didn't you?" Bartlett asked in a low voice.

"I hoped so," she murmured. "Now, Harry," she went on in a low voice,
as they moved aside, "this will be a good time for you to smooth things
over with father. If he wins, as he feels sure he will, you must
congratulate him very heartily - exceptionally so. Make a fuss over
him, so to speak. He'll be club champion, and it will seem natural for
you to bubble over about it."