wned, so perfectly obvious. Before she could get to sleep she was
obliged to make a compromise with her heart, in pursuance of which, when
she found Mrs. Pasmer at breakfast alone in the morning, she went up to
her, and said, holding her hand a moment, "I hope your daughter slept
well last night."

"No," said Mrs. Pasmer, slipping her hand away, "I can't say that she
did." There was probably no resentment expressed in the way she withdrew
her hand, but the other thought there was.

"I wish I could do something for her," she cried.

"Oh, thank you," said Mrs. Pasmer. "It's very good of you." And Mrs.
Brinkley fancied she smiled rather bitterly.

Mrs. Brinkley went out upon the seaward verandah of the hotel with this
bitterness of Mrs. Pasmer's smile in her thoughts; and it disposed her
to feel more keenly the quality of Miss Pasmer's smile. She found the
girl standing there at a remote point of that long stretch of planking,
and looking out over the water; she held with both hands across her
breast the soft chuddah shawl which the wind caught and fluttered away
from her waist. She was alone, said as Mrs. Brinkley's compunctions
goaded her nearer, she fancied that the saw Alice master a primary
dislike in her face, and put on a look of pathetic propitiation. She did
not come forward to meet Mrs. Brinkley, who liked better her waiting to
be approached; but she smiled gratefully when Mrs. Brinkley put out her
hand, and she took it with a very cold one.

"You must find it chilly here," said the elder woman.

"I had better be out in the air all I could, the doctor said," answered
Alice.

"Well, then, come with me round the corner; there's a sort of recess
there, and you won't be blown to pierces," said Mrs. Brinkley, with
authority. They sat down together in the recess, and she added: "I used
to sit here with Miss Van Hook; she could hear better in the noise the
waves made. I hope it isn't too much for you."

"Oh no," said Alice. "Mamma said you told her they were here." Mrs.
Brinkley reassured herself from this; Miss Van Hook's name had rather
slipped out; but of course Mrs. Pasmer had not repeated what she had
said about Dan in this connection. "I wish I could have seen Julia,"
Alice went on. "It would have been quite like Campobello again."

"Oh, quite," said Mrs. Brinkley, with a short breath, and not knowing
whither this tended. Alice did not leave her in doubt.

"I should like to have seen her, and begged her