sed woman, who was either very tired or not in good
health.

"Good-morning, sir," she said. "On desert islands, you know, people
speak to each other without ceremony."

I stopped, and returned her salutation. "Excuse me," I remarked, "but
this does not seem to be a desert island. May I be permitted to ask if
it is a place of much resort?"

"Of course you may," she answered. "People sometimes come here; but
would you like it better if they did not? You need not answer; I know
you would."

This was a very free and easy lady, but if she liked that mood it suited
me very well.

"Since you will have it," I replied, "I will admit I came here because I
thought my companion and I would have the island to ourselves."

"And now you are disappointed," she said, with a smile.

She was surely a person of very pleasant humor.

"Good lady," said I, "you must not corner me. I came here because I
thought it would be a good place in which to stop awhile and grumble
undisturbed; and as you say it is proper to be unceremonious, may I ask
how you happen to be here, and if you sail your boat yourself?"

"I am here," she answered, "because I like this island. I take an
interest in it for two reasons: one is that it is a good island, and the
other is that I own it."

"Really!" I exclaimed, in sudden embarrassment, "you must pardon me! I
assure you I did not know that."

"Don't apologize," she said, raising her hand. "Scarcely any one knows,
or at least remembers, that I own this island. I bought it a good many
years ago, intending to build upon it; but it was considered too remote
from the mainland, and I have established a summer home on the island
which you can just see, over there to the west; so this island is
perfectly free to respectable seekers after solitude or fish. I may add
that I do not sail my boat, but came here this morning with my brother
and another gentleman. They have now gone up the beach to look for
shells."

"Madam," said I, "I feel that I am an intruder; but to assure you that I
am a respectable one, allow me to introduce myself," and I presented my
card.

"No, thank you," she replied, with a smile, as she gently waved back my
card; "we don't do that sort of thing here; as far as possible we omit
all ordinary social customs. We come here to rid ourselves, for a time,
of manners and customs. My other island is called the 'Tangent,' because
there we fly off from our accustomed routine of life. We dress as