"Now, if you want to discover what comfort means, find a soft patch for
yourselves, and take a nap before we start for home. No upholsterer on
earth ever manufactured a mattress to equal a bed of heather. If you
don't want to sleep, kindly keep your distance, and enjoy yourselves
with discretion, for if I'm awakened in the middle of my siesta, nothing
short of murder will appease me!"
He shut his eyes even as he spoke, and composed himself with a sigh of
content. Margot, nothing loath, took off her cap, and, spreading her
cape over the bushes, nestled contentedly into its folds. Ron scorned
the idea of sleep, but as he was curious to test the comforts of the
heather, down he lay in his turn; and so soft, so springy, so eminently
luxurious did the new bed appear, that he felt no desire to rise.
Presently his eyes dropped, rose heavily once or twice, and rose no
more. Margot's head burrowed more deeply into her cape. Deep regular
snores sounded from the bush where Mr Elgood reposed. All three were
fast asleep!
The sun shone on them; the hum of a thousand insects rose from the
grass; high in the air a lark trilled his triumphant song. It was rest
indeed to sleep and dream in such surroundings!