at St. Thomas."

"Couldn't you buy him a souvenir without inquiring at great expense
what he'd prefer?"

"Ye-es; but I thought it was a nice, affectionate question."

"Well?"

"Well, he cabled one word, Charlotte."

"I guessed that the moment you quoted your message. When you asked:
'_What shall I bring you from the West Indies?_' Duke promptly
answered, '_Yourself._'"

"Charlotte, you are positively uncanny! How did you manage to hit upon
it?"

"It doesn't take as much intellect as you fancy. You are as
transparent as a plate of glass. Well, when he said '_Yourself_,' how
did you answer him?"

"It's the only thing I don't like to tell you, but I must. I reflected
a full half-hour at Barbados. It was one of those heavenly moonlight
nights not suitable for reflection. Then I wrote a message and sent it
to the office by one of the colored waiters so that the hotel people
shouldn't read it. It said" (and here she turned her face away from
me): "'_Deliveries from the West Indies are uncertain and expensive;
come and get me._'--Do you think that was forward?"

I laughed irresistibly and a long time. "It certainly was not
backward, but it was delicious," I said at length, wiping the tears
from my eyes. "However, he seems as impetuous and tempestuous as you,
so perhaps it doesn't matter."

"You see, Charlotte, I knew that probably he couldn't meet this boat
to save his life, so I was willing to say, '_Come and get me_,' just
for fun. I hadn't the slightest clue as to when he would receive my
message or the sailing dates of steamers from New York, everything is
so changed in war-times. I know only that the time is slipping away,
and Duke may leave the Shipping Board at any moment for the
training-camp. I intend to have one brief, straightforward talk with
mother, and declare my purpose. We are going to get your Mr. Winthrop
to intercede for us, too. I shall be of age in March, and I don't
intend to let a mere name stand between me and happiness."

"I think you are right, and that your mother will finally agree with
you; but I still don't see the need of an unusual toilet for
to-morrow."

"It's for the Governor," said Dolly, "and one never knows what may
happen."

"If a bromidic remark may also be cryptic, Dorothea, you have achieved
the combination. Now I must ask you a direct question, for, although I
am not your keeper, but your friend, I am not disposed to let you do
anything reckless. Why did you put tha