"Ah, I revive! If you had had as much to do with sprudel water as I have, you would be as thankful as I am at the prospect of seeing some men who are not slyly feeling their pulse while they talk to you. You needn't look so curiously at me. It is strictly proper for a girl to like men, only it's very improper to acknowledge the liking. And when they begin to get in love--Oh, isn't that the head of the procession appearing? Yes. Now, Caro, run and throw yourself on your betrothed, and sing in a high soprano how thankful you are to see him yet again--again--a-g-a--in! You see, I've not forgotten my opera." But Carolyn did not run. She walked slowly forward, her hands very cold, hanging inertly down, her lips pressed tightly together. Of one thing she was sure,--that she would not make a scene. Yes, she would die rather than make a scene. There was the bed, and there was Lawrence lounging upon it. Leander was standing rigidly straight, grasping the stakes of the cart. He shouted shrilly as he saw his sister. The old horse, which always stopped on any pretext whatever, stopped now, and drooped, as if he would lie down. "I say, sis," said Leander, jumping from the tail of the cart, "don't you go and begin to cry, and all that stuff." "I don't think your sister will cry, Leander," remarked Lawrence, with some dryness. Carolyn came to the side of the cart. She said that she hoped Mr. Lawrence was not much hurt, and Mr. Lawrence replied that he should be all right in a few hours. Then the horse was induced to start on. After a while they all reached the house, and Lawrence was helped to his room, while Leander volunteered to go on his wheel for the doctor. In due time the doctor came, and pronounced that the young man would be as well as usual again in a few days. The two girls were standing on the piazza, when this decision was announced to them by Mrs. Ffolliott. Carolyn walked quickly to the nearest chair, and sat down. She fixed her eyes on that line of dazzling brightness which was the sea. But she saw nothing. Prudence sauntered to the railing, and leaned against it. Presently Mrs. Ffolliott returned to the house, and the two were alone. Prudence walked to a long chair near her cousin, and placed herself luxuriously in it. She still wore her bicycle suit. She crossed her legs, and, leaning forward, embraced her knees with her clasped hands. "Got a smoke about you, Caro?" she asked. "No. And I didn't know you had taken up smoking." "No more I have. But my attitude, and the piazza, and a certain natural depravity in my own breast suggested the question. I think I shall try cigarettes. And one can have a truly divine thing in cigarette-cases now. And a woman's hand is peculiarly fitted to show jewels when holding a weed out--thus." The speaker extended her left hand, while she seemed to puff smoke from her lips as she did so. Carolyn smiled slightly, as she said: "You are just the same, aren't you?"