e means to
camp with you somewhere in the hammock, and if Gray goes I go too."

"Calypso," he said, "do you know what I've been hearing about you? I've
heard that you are the most assiduously run-after girl at Palm Beach.
And if you are, what on earth will the legions of the adoring say when
you take to the jungle?"

"Who said that about me?" she asked, smiling adorably.

"Is it true?"

"I am--liked. Who said it?"

"You don't mean to say," he continued perversely, "that I have
monopolised the reigning beauty of Palm Beach for an entire morning."

"Yes, you have and it is high time you understood it. _Who_ said this to
_you_?"

"Well--I gathered the fact--"

"Who?"

"My aunt--Miss Palliser."

"Do you know," said Shiela Cardross slowly, "that Miss Palliser has
been exceedingly nice to me? But her friend, Miss Suydam, is not very
civil."

"I'm awfully sorry," he said.

"I could tell you that it mattered nothing," she said, looking straight
at him; "and that would be an untruth. I know that many people disregard
such things--many are indifferent to the opinion of others, or say they
are. I never have been; I want everybody to like me--even people I have
not the slightest interest in--people I do not even know--I want them
all to like me. For I must tell you, Mr. Hamil, that when anybody
dislikes me, and I know it, I am just as unhappy about it as though I
cared for them."

"It's absurd for anybody not to like you!" he said.

"Well, do you know it really is absurd--if they only knew how willing I
am to like everybody.... I was inclined to like Miss Suydam."

Hamil remained silent.

The girl added: "One does not absolutely disregard the displeasure of
such people."

"They didn't some years ago when there were no shops on Fifth Avenue and
gentlemen wore side-whiskers," said Hamil, smiling.

Shiela Cardross shrugged. "I'm sorry; I was inclined to like her. She
misses more than I do because we are a jolly and amusing family. It's
curious how much energy is wasted disliking people. Who is Miss Suydam?"

"She's a sort of a relative. I have always known her. I'm sorry she was
rude. She is sometimes."

They said no more about her or about his aunt; and presently they moved
on again, luncheon being imminent.

"You will like my sister, Mrs. Carrick," said Shiela tranquilly. "You
know her husband, Acton, don't you? He's at Miami fishing."

"Oh, yes; I've met him at the club. He's very agreeable."

"He _i