other.

"Yes," he said, "I do know. You're too honest to pretend."

He helped her along and out upon the sand. There was a negro boy
awaiting to take charge of the boat. They went up the slight
declivity. He had not loosed her hand, she had not withdrawn it. The
laughter, the chat, the aroma of boiling coffee, the rattle of dishes
being unpacked reached them. They stood for a moment in the shadow,
then her hand left his and they went to join the others.

The dozen men and women were grouped about the pine-knot fire, for the
warmth was grateful.

There was badinage and sally, light, foolish stuff, perhaps, but
flung like shining nebulae along the way by youth in its whirl of mere
being. It is good to know how to be frivolous sometimes. Alexina felt
the exhilaration of sudden gaiety, daring. She sat down by the youth
with the guitar and the striped flannel coat.

"'And both were young, and one was beautiful,'"

warbled the owner to his guitar, making room for her. "Right here,
Miss Blair, by me."

More than one presently stole a look at the tall, rather handsome Miss
Blair, hitherto conceded reserved and different from her mother. She
was laughing contagiously with the youth, and in the end she gained
the guitar over which they were wrangling. She knew a thing or two
about a guitar herself, it seemed--Charlotte Leroy could have
explained how--as many chords as the owner anyhow. But the young
Leroy, it would appear, was sulky, certainly unsociable, sitting
there, removed to the outskirts of things, to smoke and stare at the
moon. Yet never once did the girl look his way. It was enough that
they were to return together.

Nor was she paying attention to Molly either. There are times when the
mad leap and rush of one's own blood absorbs all consciousness.

Molly was gay, too, feverishly gay. Some one had brewed a hot
something for the delectation and comforting of the chilly ones, and
Molly's thin little hand was holding out her picnic cup as often as
any one would fill it. It was Mr. Jonas who presently took the cup
away and tried to wipe a stain off the pretty dress with his
handkerchief.

When the start homeward was made, King came over to Alexina.

"I have to ask you to change to the large boat going back," he said, a
little stiffly perhaps; "Mr. Jonas is taking Mrs. Garnier in the small
one, and Mr. Henderson says he will see to you."

When she answered her voice was lightly nonchalant.

"Why not?" s