t idea into Duke's head--the
idea of meeting you in St. Thomas?"

"I wanted to talk things over before seeing mother. I knew I could
trust him. He has some elderly cousins and a sister-in-law; surely,
between them, he could find somebody to bring along with him; and I
have you, safest and wisest of Charlottes! Duke is one of the legal
advisers of the Shipping Board. Why shouldn't he have business in
these islands? Besides, it is a practical impossibility that he should
be able to reach St. Thomas on a given date."

"Then why did you suggest it?"

"I think, Charlotte, it must have been empty-mindedness."

"I regard it as a pure lack of self-control."

"I've practiced self-control for one whole, endless year."

"You have practiced filial obedience, I grant that. But what good do
you expect to achieve if Duke does surmount the insurmountable and
meet you to-morrow?"

"What good?" Dolly almost shrieked the question. "What good, do you
ask? You callous, cold-hearted Charlotte! Why, four heavenly days
spent in his society, to be sure--with you and his chaperon having a
lovely time together somewhere not too near."

"And you haven't any sneaking idea of marrying him in St. Thomas?
Because I won't allow it."

"No such luck! He wouldn't let me, unless mother's attitude has been
miraculously changed."

"Well, I can only say that you have made me very nervous and
uncomfortable, Dolly," and I prepared to leave her cabin and cross the
narrow space that divided it from mine.

"Darling Charlotte!" Here she drew me back. "If you are nervous and
uncomfortable, it seems that you think there's a bare chance that Duke
will be in St. Thomas."

"I know nothing about the possibilities," I replied. "He might
persuade the Shipping Board that he could be of use in this vicinity,
and, of course, he would have advantages not possessed by ordinary
tourists."

"If you had had any experience with shipping boards, Charlotte, you
would know that they can only be moved by chloroform or dynamite.
Besides, Duke would never do anything underhanded; he is too
patriotic; though, of course, he is inventive."

"Of course! And inventiveness is only one of his gifts, while his
virtues are those of Sir Galahad, King Arthur, Marcus Aurelius,
Abraham Lincoln, and a few others."

"Charlotte, I don't want to seem harsh, but I hope some time you will
get a faint inkling of what love really is. Your heart reminds me of
the Rock of Gibraltar!"

"O