It is very hot on the beach, I think; don't you ?" "Very," said the girl gravely.
Virginia, head still bent, was touching her wet lace waist with her wetter gloves.
"It was very good of you," she said, in a low voice--"and quite stupid of me." Shiela straightened to her full height and stood gravely watching the sea-water trickle from her joined palms.

When the last shining drop had fallen she looked questioningly at Miss Suydam.
"I'm a little tired, that is all," said Virginia.

She rose rather unsteadily and took advantage of Shiela's firm young arm, which, as they progressed, finally slipped around Miss Suydam's waist.
Very slowly they crossed the burning sands together, scarcely exchanging a word until they reached the Cardross pavilion.
"If you'll wait until I have my shower I'll take you back in my chair," said Shiela.

"Come into my own dressing-room; there's a lounge." Virginia, white and haggard, seated herself, leaning back languidly against the wall and closing her heavy eyes.

They opened again when Shiela came back from the shower, knotting in the girdle of her snowy bath-robe, and seated herself while her maid unloosed the thick hair and rubbed it till the brown-gold lustre came out like little gleams of sunlight, and the ends of the burnished tresses crisped and curled up on the smooth shoulders of snow and rose.
Virginia's lips began to quiver; she was fairly flinching now under the pitiless contrast, fascinated yet shrinking from the splendid young creature before her, resting there aglow in all the vigourous beauty of untainted health.
And from the mirror reflected, the clear eyes smiled back at her, seeming to sear her very soul with their untarnished loveliness.
"Suppose you come and lunch with me ?" said Shiela.