threads that stretched back to the island. [Pg 36] People turned and looked at it—sun-gilded in an encircling girdle of Prussian blue sea. The rocks about its base, the headlands that rose above, were dyed to an orange red and against this brilliancy of primary colors the pines stood out darkly silhouetted. On the rise above the wharf the long brown structure of the house spread, rambling and irregular, built, it was said, to suggest an outgrowth of the rocky foundation. The watchers could see in the open place beyond the side balcony the actors standing motionless, spaced in a group. Yes, having their photographs taken; there was the camera man who’d been taking pictures during the performance. And they craned their necks for a last look at the lovely scene and the picturesque assemblage of players. Part of the flotilla carried the Hayworth villagers—all-year residents of the little town on the mainland. Some of the more solid citizens were [Pg 37]in the launch that old Gabriel Harvey owned, which had been used by the actors in their week’s stay. Hayworth had gathered a great deal of information about these spectacular visitors, some from Gabriel and some from Sara Pinkney who was Mr. Driscoll’s housekeeper, living in Hayworth all winter and in summer reigning in the Gull Island kitchen. Mr. Driscoll had wired Sara to go over and open up and take charge while they were there—spare nothing, those were his orders. And Sara had done it, not wanting to, but apart from its being Mr. Driscoll’s wishes which she had followed for the last ten years, she had felt it her duty to keep an eye on the property. Every day she came over to Hayworth for supplies and had to appease the local curiosity, which she did grudgingly, feeling her power. [Pg 37] Now at last the Hayworth people had had a first-hand view of the actors—the whole company, dressed up and performing—and they fitted Sara Pinkney’s description to them. Olivia, that was Miss Tracy, the one she said was so refined[Pg 38] and pleasant-spoken. And the Duke was Alexander Stokes. He was the feller that had come after the others because the first man took sick—wonderful the way he did it considering, didn’t miss a word. And the woman who stood round and “tended on” Olivia was his wife. Sara hadn’t said much about her. Well, she wasn’t of much importance anyhow or she’d have had more acting to do. But that boy who was Viola’s twin, he was Miss Tracy’s brother, and Sara had said he and Miss Saunders didn’t get on well, she could see it though they didn’t say much.
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