She was sitting on a low slab of rock, clad in a bathing-costume
of plain dark blue, and fashioned just like my own. Her dark
hair was parted in the middle and divided at the back into two
long, thick plaits which were turned up and hair-pinned round
the top of her head. Her features were beautiful and her eyes
big and dark as her hair. Her figure was slim and graceful, and
her arms and hands and feet were very shapely. One brown knee
was crossed over the other, and her left hand held the camera.

"I do have luck, you know,"I said.

"What luck?"

"Well, honestly, it's a great pleasure to meet you like this,
when I might have spent all day talking with my silly crowd and
never have known of your existence. Don't be afraid. I merely
mean that I am enjoying your society, and I'm glad I came round
the corner. I'm not in love with you, and I don't want never
to leave your side again, but- oh, you understand, Mermaid, don't
you? You look as if you could if you liked."

My companion stared out to sea with a faint smile on her lips. I
flung out an arm with a gesture of despair.

"Oh, if you knew how sick I am of the girl about town, the girl
of to-day, who won't be natural herself, and won't let you be
natural either, who is always bored, and who has no use for
anyone who isn't forever making mock love to her, or- Why on
earth can't a man tell a woman he likes her company, and mean
it, without the woman thinking he wants to kiss her, or marry