"Why are you so quiet?" flashed Diane.

"Well, for one thing," explained Philip cheerfully, "I'm mighty busy
and for another, I'm thinking."

"Do you withdraw into a sound-proof shell when you think?"

"Mr. Poynter does!" regretted Philip. "_I_ do not."

"I do hope," said the girl demurely, "that you'll be able to hear when
the doctor gets here. He's coming through the trees."




CHAPTER XIV

BY THE BACKWATER POOL

The sun had set with a primrose glory of reflection upon the river and
the ridge. Over there in the west now there was a pale after-glow of
marigold. It streamed across the dark, still waters of the backwater
pool by the river and faintly edged the drowsy petals of white and
yellow lilies. Already distant outline and perspective were hazy,
there was purple in the forest, and birds were winging swiftly to the
woods.

By the pool with a great mass of dripping lilies at his side to carry
back to camp, Philip stared frowningly at the tangled float of foliage