will love you--many
women, but you will give your heart only once more--and that--_that_
will be a tragedy, on account of your own lack of faith."

"Say, is all that there?" said Skippy, beginning to be alarmed.

"That and more," said Vivi, warming up. "You are very loyal, not at all
conceited, brilliant intellectual qualities and you will make a
success--" Here Vivi paused and turned his hand over, studying it
carefully. "I see railroads and banking in your hand."

"Do you think so?" said Skippy unconvinced.

"There it is. You will make loads and loads of money."

"I say, do I get married?"

"That is not quite clear," said Vivi frowning. "This looks like it--but
again this line--the cold calculating streak in your nature--"

At this moment, from down the beach, came a shrill whistle imitative of
the whip-poor-will, insistent, querulous and repeated.

Vivi dropped his hand and glanced hastily at her watch.

"Good heavens, it's four o'clock!"

"All right, I'm on. Who's the little bird?" said Skippy, who had not
heard himself described as the acme of suspicion for nothing.

"Jack!"

The whip-poor-will rose to shriller heights.

"It's Charlie Brownrigger," said Vivi, trying to appear embarrassed,
"and he's come round to say good-bye."

"Oh, indeed."

"I _had_ to let him say good-bye," said Vivi imploringly to the young
sultan. "I've treated him abominably since you came. I can't be rude to
a chap, can I? I'll be right back."

"How long's it going to take?" asked Skippy, drawing out his watch.

"Oh about twenty minutes," said Vivi.

"I'll wait exactly half an hour. Four-thirty to the minute. Not a second
more."

"I do believe you're jealous, Jack Bedelle!" said Vivi expectantly.

"Jealousy has no part in my nature," said Skippy loftily. "Besides you
can see it in my hand. Firmness, that's all!"

"Brute!" said Vivi with a killing glance.

She picked up the pink parasol and hastened down the beach. Skippy
fished out the Philomathean Debating Society pin and slowly attached it
to his vest. He switched to the vacated place with the back rest and
began to whistle to himself. At the end of a seeming hour he glanced at
his watch. Exactly seven minutes had elapsed.

"Half an hour was a mistake. Fifteen minutes is enough for a mut like
Brownrigger. I should have been firmer. When a girl gets you to waiting
for her--she has you going and coming. Firmer, I should have been much
firmer!"

He slipped off