And that would have been a misfortune! For what would the ladies in London say if _le beau_ Errington returned to them with one eye! _Mon Dieu!_ they would all be en desespoir!" Thelma looked up.

Philip was standing at some little distance with Olaf Gueldmar and Lorimer, talking and laughing gaily.

His cap was slightly pushed off his forehead, and the sun shone on his thick dark-chestnut curls; his features, warmly colored by the wind and sea, were lit up with mirth, and his even white teeth sparkled in an irresistible smile of fascinating good-humor.

He was the beau-ideal of the best type of Englishman, in the full tide of youth, health and good spirits.
"I suppose he is a great favorite with all those beautiful ladies ?" she asked very quietly.
Something of gentle resignation in her tone struck the Frenchman's sense of chivalry; had she been like any ordinary woman, bent on conquest, he would have taken a mischievous delight in inventing a long list of fair ones supposed to be deeply enamored of Errington's good looks,--but this girl's innocent inquiring face inspired him with quite a different sentiment.
"_Mais certainement!_" he said frankly and emphatically.

"Phil-eep is a favorite everywhere! Yet not more so with women than with men.