"I could help dress you without that awful alternative," I replied. "I am like the pilot in the story, I know every rock in the harbor."
"Oh, I've no doubt. Look out, like that same pilot, you're not wrecked on one of them some day."
"Can you manage a string tie?" I asked, as a more important subject was forced on my attention.
I always made a mess of that operation and this morning my luck was worse than usual.
"Easily," she said. "Do you want me to fix yours?"
"I will, with pleasure," she said. "Come in here when you are ready; or, shall I come there?"
"For goodness' sake don't come just yet!" I exclaimed, thinking I heard her step. "I am not at all prepared. In fact that tie is about the only article of dress I have on."
"Don't be afraid," came the mocking tones. "I am in much the same situation. Fifteen minutes from now we will both be ready, and then I shall be at your service."
After several minutes of silence I inquired whether any more pins had proved unruly.
"No, I'm getting on pretty well. Say, can you get at your soap?"
"Put on your morning gown and come to my door."
I did so, with the cake of soap in my hand and met my companion, somewhat similarly arrayed, holding out a bare arm. She did look to my eyes at that moment wonderfully pretty.
"Come, Marjorie," I said, dropping into the affectionate form, "you might let me in for a minute or two. You don't know how becoming that attire is."
"I know all about it. I've been looking in the glass. Hurry up and finish dressing. I will meet you on the veranda."
Wesson came along at that moment with Eggert and smiled. I resented that smile. It meant a hundred things that he had no right to surmise; besides, they weren't true.
"It is perfectly lovely here," he commented, to Eggert as much as to me. "My friend Camwell has not misrepresented it in the least."
"Camran," corrected Eggert, for which I could have punched his head. Were they going to argue that point over between them?
"Camran, I should have said," corrected Wesson. "Could I make arrangements to come out here and board while I remain on the island?"
"Damn!" I exclaimed, under my breath, but Marjorie heard me through the partition.
"What is the matter?" she asked, sympathetically. "Has something pricked you, too?"