underclothes downinto the hall

"Whether we've ever been in love?" she enquired. "Is that the kindof question you mean?"Again Helen laughed at her, benignantly strewing her with handfulsof the long tasselled grass, for she was so brave and so foolish. 　　"Oh, Rachel," she cried. "It's like having a puppy in the househaving you with one--a puppy that brings one's underclothes downinto the hall."But again the sunny earth in front of them was crossed by fantasticwavering figures, the shadows of men and women. 　　"There they are!" exclaimed Mrs. Elliot. There was a touch ofpeevishness in her voice. "And we've had _such_ a hunt to find you. 　　Do you know what the time is?"Mrs. Elliot and Mr. and Mrs. Thornbury now confronted them; Mrs. Elliotwas holding out her watch, and playfully tapping it upon the face. 　　Hewet was recalled to the fact that this was a party for which hewas responsible, and he immediately led them back to the watch-tower,where they were to have tea before starting home again. A brightcrimson scarf fluttered from the top of the wall, which Mr. Perrottand Evelyn were tying to a stone as the others came up. The heathad changed just so far that instead of sitting in the shadow theysat in the sun, which was still hot enough to paint their faces redand yellow, and to colour great sections of the earth beneath them. 　　"There's nothing half so nice as tea!" said Mrs. Thornbury,taking her cup. 　　"Nothing," said Helen. "Can't you remember as a child choppingup hay--" she spoke much more quickly than usual, and kept her eyefixed upon Mrs. Thornbury, "and pretending it was tea, and gettingscolded by the nurses--why I can't imagine, except that nursesare such brutes, won't allow pepper instead of salt though there'sno earthly harm in it. Weren't your nurses just the same?"During this speech Susan came into the group, and sat down byHelen's side. A few minutes later Mr. Venning strolled up fromthe opposite direction. He was a little flushed, and in the moodto answer hilariously whatever was said to him.