e
hardly seen you for three days."

"Nobody has seen me," she informed him. "I've been doing all sorts of
stunts in the shops. I was in town yesterday with Mrs. Martens, and you
should see my hats----"

"I'd rather see your hair. Do you know how lovely it is with the
sunshine on it----"

"Silly--wait till you see my dream of a picture hat--with yellow
roses--to be worn with a shadow lace robe over a primrose slip."

"White and gold--Sophie was foxy to choose that," he said.

"Foxy--why?"

"Oh, the pinks and blues don't suit you. You need the unusual tints.
That amethyst frock you had on the other night fitted in with the
twilight, and the old garden and the lilacs; and in the yellow and white
you'll be a primrose, flashing in the sun."

"Mrs. Martens has the most wonderful taste," she informed him. "There's
a tea-gown of white crape with a little lace wrap--I don't know when
I'll wear it, but Mrs. Martens insisted--and a new gown for the yacht
club dance to-morrow night,--and you should see my shoes--five pairs of
them."

"Such richness!" He smiled into her eager eyes. "Did Diana help you
choose?"

"Diana's away--on business in the city. That's why I'm free to do as I
please to-day."

"Are you free to do as you please----?" He seized his opportunity. "Then
come up to the shed and see my air-ship. We can have a little flight
across the harbor."

She shook her head. "Oh, I can't. I have an engagement with Captain
Stubbs and Miss Matthews. We are going fishing in the captain's boat,
and have lunch on the rocks later."

Justin looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, then he said, "Three's a
crowd. You ought to have four."

"Are you asking--to be invited?"

"Please----"

"But it's Captain Stubbs' party."

"I am perfectly sure that if you'll give me a certificate of good
character Captain Stubbs will take me aboard."

She seemed to be summing up the situation. "I'm not sure," she said, at
last, "that you'd fit in----"

"Why not?"

"Oh, the captain's old-fashioned, and Miss Matthews is old-fashioned,
and I love them both, and so I don't care. But you don't love them."

He flushed. "I see. You're afraid that I'll make them feel
uncomfortable. I am sorry you should think that. I'm not quite a cad,
you know."

There were sparks in his eyes. He wondered that he should be so angry.
But he was desperately angry with this cool little creature who didn't
seem to care.

And now she was passing frigid j