V.

Towards afternoon Andrews heard a gentle knock on his door.

“Come in,” he said.

Miss Langdon entered dressed in a sailor suit. “You see,” she explained, “I just realized that a promise is a promise and so I’ve come to go yachting with you. Can you go now?”

“Can I go?” asked Andrews. “Just watch me.” And giving his desk cover a pull, he reached for his hat and said, “I’m ready now.”

“It took you less time to get ready than it took me,” she smiled.

Andrews looked admiringly at her costume but said nothing. The distance to the pier was not long, and today Andrews found it much shorter than usual. Given, a bright vivacious girl and a man who appreciates that kind, and it needs no mathematician to prove that they will make a congenial couple.

The day was delightful. Just the right amount of wind was blowing for a sail. They talked pleasantly for some time as the big yacht skimmed over the water like a great white bird. Then Andrews said, “Miss Langdon, I have a friend who says that all women are flirts. Is he right?”

“Really Mr. Andrews, you take me at a disadvantage.”

“How so?”

“Why, you ask me either to laud or condemn myself, and you know that no man can, on trial, be compelled to give testimony against himself.”

Andrews laughed. “Let’s change the subject. See that school of red fish?”

“Yes.”

“Well, if we were in Hawaii and these fish came into the harbor we might expect to hear of the death of a member of the royal family. The Hawaiians have a superstition that these fish come to announce the death of a chief. Are you at all superstitious?”

“Well, I believe that thirteen is an unlucky number.”

“Yes?”

“There were thirteen of us in our club and all but five got married before the club was a year old.”

“What kind of a club; Browning or Shakespeare?”

“Neither. We had vowed solemn vows that we would not marry until--” she stopped short.

“Why do you stop?” Andrews asked.

“You men say that women can not keep a secret. I guess that you are right. I came near giving our club secret away.”

They soon landed, and giving Diana in charge of her uncle, who was at the dock waiting for them, Andrews went to the club.

“Diana,” said her uncle, “what made you go with Andrews after you said that you would not?”

“Because,” said that young lady, “because I love--sailing.”