The baby deposited in the nursery, he keeps out of the way till
tea-time, when he finds them all seated round a table still in the
garden.

Clotilde had at first refused to see anyone, but Paul persuaded her at
length, 'Sooner or later, you must,' he had said, 'you know Mabel, and
Lippa is a dear little girl.'

'But--' and Clotilde had looked up at her husband with those large dark
eyes of hers 'they will--'

'The past will be forgotten,' was his reply, spoken sadly and quietly.
And now she seems to be more at her ease.

'Have some tea, Jimmy,' says Philippa as he approaches.

'No thanks, it is too hot,' he replies.

'Come and sit then,' suggests Mabel pushing forward an empty chair, into
which he sinks.

'Well, lazy boy, what have you been doing,' this from Lippa who is
eating strawberries with apparent relish.

'Nothing,' is the yawned reply.

'Not even thinking of me,' and Lippa looks coquettishly at him from
under her large shady hat.

'No, indeed, why should I, but you may as well spare me one strawberry.'