In the height of the season visits to the scene of operations were made functions; tourists and residents gathered in swarms and took tea and luncheon under the magnificent live-oaks of the hammock.
Mrs.Cardross herself gave a number of lawn fetes with the kindly intention of doing practical good to Hamil, the success of whose profession was so vitally dependent upon the approval and personal interest of wealth and fashion and idleness.
Shiela constantly tormented him about these functions for his benefit, suggesting that he attire himself in a sloppy velvet jacket and let his hair grow and his necktie flow.

She pretended to prepare placards advertising Hamil's popular parks for poor people at cut rates, including wooden horses and a barrel-organ.
"An idea of mine," she suggested, glancing up from the writing-pad on her knees, "is to trim a dozen alligators with electric lights and turn them loose in our lake.

There's current enough in the canal to keep the lights going, isn't there, Mr.Hamil?
Incandescent alligators would make Luna Park look like a bog full of fireflies--" "O Shiela, let him alone," protested Mrs.Carrick.

"For all you know Mr.
Hamil may be dreadfully sensitive." "I'll let him alone if he'll let his beard grow horrid and silky and permit us to address him as Cher maitre--" "I won't insist on that if you'll call me by my first name," said Hamil mischievously.
"I never will," returned the girl.

Always when he suggested it, the faint pink of annoyed embarrassment tinted Shiela's cheeks.