When they
had suffered their adored mistress's temerity in silence for as long as
canine toleration could be expected to endure, one or other of them would
lift up his voice in a long-drawn wail of protest, the others would
immediately join in, and the chorus of howls continued to make day hideous
until Lady Susan issued from the water and hurried into her tent to dress.
Punishment and persuasion proved equally futile as a corrective.
Inexplicable though it appeared, their mistress apparently derived some
obscure satisfaction out of the process of splashing about in the wet sea,
and because they loved her they bore it as long as they could. But after
the expiration of a certain time-limit nothing could quiet them except Lady
Susan's prompt emergence from the water.
Tony's arrival had added yet another member to the bathing contingent. He
seemed to have forgotten all his troubles, and entered with zest into any
and every sort of amusement which Silverquay afforded. A letter Ann had
received from Sir Philip was primarily responsible for this care-free
attitude. "Keep Tony as long as you want," the old man had written. "But
you may tell the young fool he can come home when he likes.
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