VIII

      Running about the grounds, they were like children at play. None of them had any idea who the place belonged to or the history of the house. Hazel had a strange feeling that it was hers as she tiptoed around the rose garden, holding onto her straw hat to keep the breeze from blowing it away. She did feel very picturesque among the pink roses.
      And despite Milicent's doubt, Emily did not discover any change in her friends but felt, with great jubilation, that all was as she had left it. How she adored her friends! They were such liberated folk.
      Milicent charged past Emily to jump upon Iseult who shrieked as she realised herself discovered behind an austere stone column. 'So fearless,' mused Emily, not really sure what she was referring to but feeling satisfied with the sentiment.
      Vincent and Emily held hands. Vincent whistled a tune. He was watching Geoffery who was heading for the tearooms. And, he thought, about time too.
      Later they returned to the cottage down the winding roads by mode of Alice, Hazel's sweet little green and white car which had been decorated earlier in the day with flowers so it looked as though they had all just been married, or perhaps they had stolen the car in the middle of a ceremony.