"Shall we say we both did, and call it quits? I suppose it was in
the air, somehow."
"In the air," she repeated, smiling again, then shivered suddenly.
"Things are in the air ... that's just it. I had a dream last night.
I suppose you'll call it silly nonsense, but it's made me queer and
restless all day. Doctor Haverill, has Herrick said anything to you
about my brother yet?"
"We talked one evening."
"Well?"
"We ... didn't get to any conclusions, that's all. He has some
theory. He hasn't told me yet what it is."
She looked at me steadily.
"If he said that, it is because he knows something. I am absolutely
certain of that. And if he knows ... Doctor Haverill, you are
keeping something back from me, you and Herrick together!"
"I am not. I wouldn't do it." I looked at the girl beside me. "If
you want me to swear."
"No." She put out a hand. "Yes, one thing. Can you swear to me
that to your knowledge there is no suspicion in his mind of any ...
brain trouble with Dick?"
"Yes, I can swear to that, absolutely!"
"I am glad." She was looking straight ahead, down the road before
us. "I don't think even Herrick would have kept that from me, if he
thought it. Well ... I suppose I've got to wait."
We spoke of other things during the rest of the drive, and she did
not once mention Herrick's name, or her brother's, again. We were
passing Sliefer's place when I caught sight once of our queer little
acquaintance of the morning. He was just turning in at the gateway,
his hat pulled well forward, his little tin box under his arm, and I
nodded to him as we drove by. He jerked his head in response,
peering short-sightedly up at the buggy through his round dark
glasses.
"What a funny little man!" said Mary, after we had passed by. "Is he
staying down here?"
"At the Sliefers'. Herrick found him in the woods this morning. He
appears to spend his time orchid-hunting in the neighbourhood."
"Orchid-hunting..." said Mary. She turned her head and looked back
at Mr. Crowfoot rather deliberately. Following her gaze, I was
surprised to see that he too had turned, and was standing looking
after us from the Sliefers' gateway. Seeing himself observed, he
moved hurriedly, and disappeared in the direction of the house like a
disturbed rabbit going abruptly to earth.