Behind them their long shadows trailed across the brilliant grass.
Traversing the grove which encircled the newly clipped lawn, now fragrant with sun-crisped grass-tips left in the wake of the mower, he glanced up at the pretty mermaid mother cuddling her tiny offspring against her throat.

Across her face a bar of pink sunlight fell, making its contour exquisite.
"Plunkitt tells me that they really laugh at each other in the moonlight," he said.
She glanced up; then away from him: "You seem to be enamoured of the moonlight," she said.
"I like to prowl in it." "Alone ?" "Sometimes." "And--at other times ?" He laughed: "Oh, I'm past that, as you reminded me a moment ago." "Then you _did_ misunderstand me!" "Why, no--" "Yes, you did! But I supposed you knew." "Knew what, Eileen ?" "What I meant." "You meant that I am _hors de concours_." "I didn't!" "But I am, child.

I was, long ago." She looked up: "Do you really think that, Captain Selwyn?
If you do--I am glad." He laughed outright.

"You are glad that I'm safely past the spooning age ?" he inquired, moving forward.
She halted: "Yes.

Because I'm quite sure of you if you are; I mean that I can always keep you for myself.