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in at once。 He only plays when he is excited。 I am afraid！ Oh；
I am afraid that something is going to happen！〃
She was already round the corner and on her way to the main terrace。
He followed her closely。
CHAPTER XVI
〃Let us follow the example of all great golfers；〃 Hamel said。 〃Let
us for this morning； at any rate； imagine that your whole world is
encompassed within these eighteen holes。 We have been sent here in
a moment of good humour by your tyrant uncle。 The sun shines； and
the wind is from the west。 Why not？〃
〃That is all very well for you；〃 she retorted； smiling； 〃but I have
topped my drive。〃
〃Purely an incident；〃 he assured her。 〃The vicissitudes of the game
do not enter into the question。 I have driven a ball far above my
usual form； but I am not gloating over it。 I prefer to remember
only that I am going to spend the next two hours with you。〃
She played her shot； and they walked for a little way together。
She was suddenly silent。
〃Do you know；〃 she said finally； just a little gravely； 〃I am not
at all used to speeches of this sort。〃
〃Then you ought to be；〃 he declared。 〃Nothing but the lonely life
you have been living has kept you from hearing them continually。〃
She laughed a little at the impotence of her rebuff and paused for
a moment to make her next shot。 Hame1； standing a little on one
side； watched her appraisingly。 Her short； grey tweed skirt was
obviously the handiwork of an accomplished tailor。 Her grey
stockings and suede shoes were immaculate and showed a care for her
appearance which pleased him。 Her swing； too； revealed a grace；
the grace of long arms and a supple body； at which previously he
had only guessed。 The sunshine seemed to have brought out a copper
tinge from her abundant brown hair。
〃Do you know；〃 he remarked； 〃I think I am beginning to like your
uncle。 Great idea of his； sending us off here directly after
breakfast。〃
Her face darkened for a moment； and he realised his error。 The
same thought； indeed； had been in both their minds。 Mr。 Fentolin's
courteous suggestion had been offered to them almost in the shape
of a command。 It was scarcely possible to escape from the
reflection that he had desired to rid himself of their presence for
the morning。
〃Of course；〃 he went on； 〃I knew that these links were good … quite
famous； aren't they？〃
〃I have played on so few others；〃 she told him。 〃I learned my golf
here with King； the professional。〃
He took off his cap and handed it to his caddy。 He himself was
beginning already to look younger。 The long blue waves came
rippling up the creeks。 The salt wind； soft with sunshine； blew
in their faces。 The marshes on the landward side were mauve with
lavender blossom； In the distance； the red…tiled cottages nestled
deep among a background of green trees and rising fields。
〃This indeed is a land of peace；〃 he declared。 〃If I hadn't to
give you quite so many strokes； I should be really enjoying myself。〃
〃You don't play like a man who has been living abroad for a great
many years；〃 she remarked。 〃 Tell me about some of the places you
have visited？〃
〃Don't let us talk seriously；〃 he begged。 〃I'll tell you of them
but let it be later on。 This morning I feel that the spring air
is getting into my head。 I have an absurd desire to talk nonsense。〃
〃So far；〃 she admitted； 〃you haven't been altogether unsuccessful。〃
〃If you are alluding；〃 he replied； 〃to the personal remarks I was
emboldened to make on my way here； I can only say that they were
excused by their truthfulness。〃
〃I am not at all sure that you have known me long enough to tell
me what colours suit me；〃 she demurred。
〃Then what will you say；〃 he enquired； 〃if I admire the angle of
that quill in your hat？〃
〃Don't do it；〃 she laughed。 〃If you continue like this； I may have
to go home。〃
〃You have sent the car away；〃 he reminded her cheerfully。 〃You
would simply have to sit upon the balcony and reflect upon your
wasted morning。〃
〃I decline to talk upon the putting green；〃 she said。 〃It puts me
off。 If you will stand perfectly quiet and say nothing； I will
play the like。〃
They moved off presently to the next teeing ground。
〃I don't believe this nonsense is good for our golf；〃 she said。
〃It is immensely good for us as human beings；〃 he protested。
They had played the ninth hole and turned for home。 On their right
now was a shimmering stretch of wet sand and a thin line of sea； in
the distance。 The tide； receding； had left little islands of virgin
sand； grass tufted； the home of countless sea…gulls。 A brown…sailed
fishing boat was racing for the narrow entrance to the tidal way。
〃I am beginning to understand what there is about this coast which
fascinated my father so；〃 he remarked。
〃Are you？〃 she answered gravely。 〃Years ago I used to love it； but
not now。〃
He tried to change the subject； but the gloom had settled upon her
face once more。
〃You don't know what it is like；〃 she went on； as they walked side
by side after their balls； 〃to live day and night in fear； with no
one to talk to … no one； that is to say； who is not under the same
shadow。 Even the voices of the wind and the sea； and the screaming
of the birds； seem to bring always an evil message。 There is
nothing kindly or hopeful even in the sunshine。 At night； when the
tide comes thundering in as it does so often at this time of the
year； one is afraid。 There is so much to make one afraid！〃
She had turned pale again； notwithstanding the sunshine and the
freshening wind。 He laid his hand lightly upon her arm。 She
suffered his touch without appearing to notice it。
〃Ah； you mustn't talk like that！〃 he pleaded。 〃Do you know what
you make me feel like？〃
She came back from the world of her own unhappy imaginings。
〃Really； I forgot myself；〃 she declared； with a little smile。
〃Never mind； it does one good sometimes。 One up； are you？
Henceforth； then； golf … all the rigour of the game； mind。〃
He fell in with her mood； and their conversation touched only upon
the game。 On the last green he suffered defeat and acknowledged
it with a little grimace。
〃If I might say so； Miss Fentolin；〃 he protested； 〃you are a little
too good for your handicap。 I used to play a very reasonable
scratch myself； but I can't give you the strokes。〃
She smiled。
〃Doubtless your long absence abroad；〃 she began slowly； 〃has
affected your game。〃
〃I was round in eighty…one；〃 he grumbled。
〃You must have travelled in many countries；〃 she continued； 〃where
golf was an impossibility。〃
〃Naturally；〃 he admitted。 〃Let us stay and have lunch and try
again。〃
She shook her head with a little sigh of regret。
〃You see； the car is waiting；〃 she pointed out。 〃We are expected
home。 I shan't be a minute putting my clubs away。〃
They sped swiftly along the level road towards St。 David's Hall。
Far in the distance they saw it； built upon that strange hill；
with the sunlight flashing in its windows。 He looked at it long
and curiously。
〃I think；〃 he said； 〃that yours is the most extraordinarily
situated house I have ever seen。 Fancy a gigantic mound l