"It was through Billy that I got to know you," Mercedes went on--"he was always talking about you. And you--you always held me off--" Something very warm and sweet crept into my heart, and I put my hand out, across the space between. "I'm sorry," I said, "awfully sorry, Mercedes,--you see, perhaps I wasn't quite used to girls." "You'll really be my friend now?" she asked, naïvely: and I was conscious that I spoke the whole truth as I answered, "I am your friend, Mercedes,--never doubt it." Our hands clasped on that, and within ten minutes, her quiet breathing told me that she slept. I lay awake a little longer, thinking very hard. So Bill had really seen the best of her after all. He had not told me, for I had never tried to know, even second hand. He would have let me go on believing the girl to be heartless and silly, and admiration-loving, nothing else. It was not fair! And then I stopped to realize that I had not _wanted_ to believe her anything else. Before I fell asleep, I had absolved Mercedes Howells from deliberately trying to flirt with my husband. She would have been my friend more than his, had I wished her to be. Failing that, she had turned to the person, who, oddly enough, had apparently comprehended her little complexities. I looked over at the serene face, the heavy, white lids, with their weight of dark lashes, folded over the big eyes. A little smile curved the lovely, full mouth, and she slept, as a child sleeps, one hand under her soft cheek. It was very still. The palm leaves rustled faintly over my head, and the sunlight fell hot and golden through the trees. My eyes closed in spite of myself, and with a very tender impulse toward my new friend, I turned on my side and slept. CHAPTER XVII "What are you two girls whispering about?" asked Wright, coming up behind us on the glassed-in porch of the Country Club. "It is none of your affairs," responded Mercedes with dignity, "but as you are so rude as to ask, I will tell you that the last affair of the season is to be held at the home of Consuelo Mendez--a ball--next week. And I have asked Mavis if she will let me steal you for the evening--provided you have no objection. It will be amusing, I think, and you will meet many pretty girls." "As to that, I would not have to leave Guayabal," said Wright politely, "but I am honored that you implore my escort--" "Implore!" said Mercedes with scorn. "Be careful," I warned. "She'll withdraw her invitation. And I'm sure you'd have a wonderful time. I shan't go, of course, although Senora Mendez has been gracious enough to include me in the invitation. And Bill declares he is too old for such festivities. But I have told Mercedes she may have you--" "And welcome?" suggested Wright, tragically.