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The sht sea

The turf was heeranium and coleus, and cast-iron vases painted in chocolate colour, standing at intervals along the winding path that led to the sea, looped their garlands of petunia and ivy geraniue of the cliff and the square wooden house (which was also chocolate-coloured, but with the tin roof of the verandah striped in yellow and brown to represent an awning) two large targets had been placed against a background of shrubbery On the other side of the lawn, facing the targets, was pitched a real tent, with benches and garden-seats about it A nurey frock-coats and tall hats stood on the lawn or sat upon the benches; and every now and then a slender girl in starched muslin would step from the tent, bow in hand, and speed her shaft at one of the targets, while the spectators interrupted their talk to watch the result

Newland Archer, standing on the verandah of the house, looked curiously down upon this scene On each side of the shiny painted steps was a large blue china flower-pot on a bright yellow china stand A spiky green plant filled each pot, and below the verandah ran a wide border of blue hydrangeas edged with eraniuh which he had passed gave glilassy parquet floors islanded with chintz poufs, dwarf armchairs, and velvet tables covered with trifles in silver

The Newport Archery Club always held its Augustat the Beauforts' The sport, which had hitherto known no rival but croquet, was beginning to be discarded in favour of lawn-tennis; but the latter gaant for social occasions, and as an opportunity to show off pretty dresses and graceful attitudes the bow and arrow held their own

Archer looked doonder at the fa on in the old hen his own reactions to it had so coht ho the previous winter, after he and May had settled down in the new greenish-yellow house with the bo and the Pompeian vestibule, he had dropped back with relief into the old routine of the office, and the renewal of this daily activity had served as a link with his former self