Chapter 21

           Thesmallbrightlawnstretchedawaysmoothlytothebigbrightsea.Theturfwashemmedwithanedgeofscarletgeraniumandcoleus,andcast-ironvasespaintedinchocolatecolour,standingatintervalsalongthewindingpaththatledtothesea,loopedtheirgarlandsofpetuniaandivygeraniumabovetheneatlyrakedgravel.Halfwaybetweentheedgeofthecliffandthesquarewoodenhouse(whichwasalsochocolate-coloured,butwiththetinroofoftheverandahstripedinyellowandbrowntorepresentanawning)twolargetargetshadbeenplacedagainstabackgroundofshrubbery.Ontheothersideofthelawn,facingthetargets,waspitchedarealtent,withbenchesandgarden-seatsaboutit.Anumberofladiesinsummerdressesandgentlemeningreyfrock-coatsandtallhatsstoodonthelawnorsatuponthebenches;andeverynowandthenaslendergirlinstarchedmuslinwouldstepfromthetent,bowinhand,andspeedhershaftatoneofthetargets,whilethespectatorsinterruptedtheirtalktowatchtheresult.NewlandArcher,standingontheverandahofthehouse,lookedcuriouslydownuponthisscene.Oneachsideoftheshinypaintedstepswasalargebluechinaflower-potonabrightyellowchinastand.Aspikygreenplantfilledeachpot,andbelowtheverandahranawideborderofbluehydrangeasedgedwithmoreredgeraniums.Behindhim,theFrenchwindowsofthedrawing-roomsthroughwhichhehadpassedgaveglimpses,betweenswayinglacecurtains,ofglassyparquetfloorsislandedwithchintzpoufs,dwarfarmchairs,andvelvettablescoveredwithtriflesinsilver.