“Certainly I will. But....” She hesitated, her mind struggling against despair. “You make me sick. What’ll I do without you?” “Come along,” Teddy said easily. “The more the merrier.” “Madden!” Blake was outraged again. “You don’t really take it seriously at all. I don’t think you mean to come.” She leaned forward eagerly. “But why can’t I come? I’d be useful, really I would. I’d do the cooking for you. I’ll try to save up something before we start. Please! Honest, Blake, I’m serious. I am. Couldn’t I come? Would it really spoil it all if I came?” “It’s all right with _me_,” said Teddy. “Why not, Blake?” “Because....” “Oh, you don’t want me,” she cried. “You _are_ afraid I’ll spoil it. Let me come. If it looks as if I’ll spoil it, I’ll take the next train back. But let me try. _Please_. If you don’t, I’ll get up another expedition by myself, and I’ll probably be killed. Go on, Blake. Say yes.” “Oh,” he said, relenting, “I guess it doesn’t make much difference if we keep it down to three. You’re not joking?” He searched her face seriously, and she tried to look as intense as possible. “All right,” he decided, “we’ll all go. But remember if anyone hears about it it’s all off.” “I promise faithfully,” she said. Teddy stood up and reached for his racket. “It’s time we’re shoving off. Coming along, Gin? You can watch us play.” “Not this trip. Don’t you want another round of lemonade to pledge the business?” “I’m full up,” Blake said, and Teddy added, “Better not; we’ll splash when we play. Never mind.” “Well then, we’ll just shake on it.” They clasped hands and she watched them from the side windows as they drove away. After they were out of sight she stood there, staring at a most uninteresting house across the street and thinking so deeply that she didn’t hear Flo come in. “What on earth are you looking at?” Flo said in her ear, and she jumped. “Are you here already? It must be late.” “No, I’m early. Oh, goody. Lemonade! You’re an angel. Did anyone call me?” “Call? Well, let’s see if I can remember....” “You imbecile,” Flo said pleasantly. “Did Russell call?” “Oh, Russell. Of course he did, constantly, all the time, perpetually. _I_ wish you’d tell him to phone the office instead. I get all excited when the phone rings, and it’s always Russell for you.” “Why not?” Flo went over to the mirror and started to comb her hair. “Don’t you like him?” “Oh, he’s all right, I guess. Are you going to marry him?” “I don’t know. What do you think about it?” She sat down on the couch and put her arms around her knees. “I guess I could if I tried. He’s doing pretty well at the office. What do you think?” Gin said promptly, “Oh, marry him. You said you wanted to be married. I don’t know why, but you said so.”