XXIII. Magic

           Dr.Cravenhadbeenwaitingsometimeatthehousewhentheyreturnedtoit.Hehadindeedbeguntowonderifitmightnotbewisetosendsomeoneouttoexplorethegardenpaths.WhenColinwasbroughtbacktohisroomthepoormanlookedhimoverseriously.

           “Youshouldnothavestayedsolong,”hesaid.“Youmustnotoverexertyourself.”

           “Iamnottiredatall,”saidColin.“Ithasmademewell.TomorrowIamgoingoutinthemorningaswellasintheafternoon.”

           “IamnotsurethatIcanallowit,”answeredDr.Craven.“Iamafraiditwouldnotbewise.”

           “Itwouldnotbewisetotrytostopme,”saidColinquiteseriously.“Iamgoing.”

           EvenMaryhadfoundoutthatoneofColin’schiefpeculiaritieswasthathedidnotknowintheleastwhatarudelittlebrutehewaswithhiswayoforderingpeopleabout.Hehadlivedonasortofdesertislandallhislifeandashehadbeenthekingofithehadmadehisownmannersandhadhadnoonetocomparehimselfwith.MaryhadindeedbeenratherlikehimherselfandsinceshehadbeenatMisselthwaitehadgraduallydiscoveredthatherownmannershadnotbeenofthekindwhichisusualorpopular.HavingmadethisdiscoveryshenaturallythoughtitofenoughinteresttocommunicatetoColin.SoshesatandlookedathimcuriouslyforafewminutesafterDr.Cravenhadgone.Shewantedtomakehimaskherwhyshewasdoingitandofcourseshedid.

           “Whatareyoulookingatmefor?”hesaid.

           “I’mthinkingthatIamrathersorryforDr.Craven.”

           “SoamI,”saidColincalmly,butnotwithoutanairofsomesatisfaction.