interposed Laura. "You know I'd trust
you with a million if I had it."

He slipped his hand through her arm, for just then they turned the
corner and met the sea wind full in their faces. "Dear old girl: there
are not many like you."

Laura felt herself propelled along so easily with his thick-set figure
between her and the wind from the sea; the warm vitality that came out
from him and seemed to run also through her veins, making her feel
stronger, gayer, more exuberantly full of energy than she ever did when
alone. She wanted to tell him her feelings, after the way of lovers,
and so she turned to him with a little quick pressure of his arm in
hers as they neared the pay-box. "Godfrey! I feel as if I could jump
over the moon. Don't you? It must be this lovely morning."

He let his glance rove idly over the promenade gardens and the road
leading to it, which certainly looked their best on this day of real
summer, when there was hot sunshine to warm the breeze, and girls and
children in pink and blue and white and yellow playing on the sands.
The sea was a sparkling green and a couple of boys ran out into the
surf, shouting as they ran. . . . But though Wilson had an eye for
beauty, he was thinking chiefly of the row of villas which could be
built where a cornfield now grew--and lodging-houses on the cliff top
with steps down from the gardens to the shore--and the money rolling
in. Then he heard Laura speaking to the girl in the pay-box as she
went through the barrier; and with a sudden jolt of the memory the
nymph in the flame-coloured gown came back to mind, though he had
forgotten all about her from the night of the promenade dance until the
present moment.

He hesitated a few seconds, then he also stepped forward and peered in
at the little window with Laura, who was still talking; and instantly,
his sudden curiosity fell flat like a bubble pricked. For he saw just
enough resemblance in this ordinary, pale, alert little girl, with the
bright eyes and the freckles on her nose, to make sure she was the same
person, and after that one glance he stood looking away to sea with his
hands in his pockets, whistling softly, awaiting his lady's pleasure.
He was no longer curious.

Caroline, defiantly aware of all this, answered Laura's pleasant
remarks at random. She was not going to have him tell about the red
dress in his own way--since he had evidently never thought again of it
or her--making a funny tale