ina nestled back into the soft fur folds and smiled a smile of
luxurious content.

"I am so thoroughly imbued with utter bliss," she said; "only to think
that I am going _where_-ever I please, to do _what_-ever I please, just
_when_-ever I please,--indefinitely."

"It sounds like Paradise, surely," said the man, dropping into his own
seat and tucking himself up with two deft blows administered to the
right and left of his legs; "what do you suppose you'll do first?"

"I think that I shall do almost everything first," she answered
laughing, and then, taking a long look out upon the twinkles of Fire
Island, she sighed deeply and joyfully, and added, "Ah, but I'm going to
have a beautiful time!"

The man plunged a hand into his breast-pocket.

"Did you ever smoke a cigarette?" he asked.

"Never!" she exclaimed delightedly; "never till this minute. But will
you teach me now?"

He looked at her and laughed, his silver case in his hand.

"You must not go too fast at first, you know. Are you sure that it will
not make you ill?"

"Oh, yes, yes! I'm sure!"

"Perhaps it isn't really the first time," he suggested.

"No, it isn't really the first time, but it will be the first time in
just about one minute."

He laughed again and held out the case; she took one from it and looked
at it in a way that proved her ignorance.

"Does it make any difference which end?"

"Not with that kind."

"Have I anything to bite, or to pinch, or to poke?"

"No, only something to light."

"Very well, light the match."

"I'm so original," said the man; "you see I say nothing about your
eyes."

"I noticed your thoughtful consideration," she replied with a smile.
"Many thanks. And now the match, please."

He scratched it somewhere and offered it. The cigarette lit easily,
being of a good kind, and the same light did him equal service.

"How do you find it?" he asked presently.

"I find it horrible," she gasped; "but my husband never would have
allowed it, and so I shall go through with it to the bitter--the
_awfully_ bitter--other end."

"Don't stick to it if it makes you feel badly," he said a little
anxiously; "remember you have the whole wide ocean before you."

"Yes," said Rosina, "I--I was just thinking of that."

"Are you apt to be seasick?"

"Sometimes I have to lie still a day or two."

"In your chair?"

"In my berth."

"Please throw it away at once; I don't want you to be lying still in
your berth a day or