They had erected a great Japanese umbrella at one end, and were sitting beneath it in basket chairs. Between them stood a small table, on which lay some feminine work and a yellow-backed novel, but neither the work nor the novel were in requisition, for both ladies were chatting to Toby and Archie, as they lounged near in their cool-looking gray suits. Both gentlemen, by kind permission of the feminine half of the party, were smoking cigarettes, and Mrs. Belswin, knowing how it would shock Kaituna, bravely suppressed a desire to have one also. Very handsome she looked in her dark dress, with a bunch of crimson poppies at her breast, but handsomer still looked Kaituna, her pale olive face delicately flushed as she toyed with a heap of pale white blossoms, and talked gaily to Archibald. "I think instead of spoiling those flowers you might make me a button-hole," said the audacious Archie in a small voice. Kaituna looked doubtful. "You have a button-hole." "One of my own gathering," he said, throwing it away. "No man can arrange flowers; now you being a woman----" "Can arrange them charmingly. Don't pay me any more compliments, Mr. Maxwell." "Well, I won't, if you give me a button-hole." "I have nothing here worth making up," said Miss Pethram, rising suddenly and letting all the flowers fall on the terrace. "Come down with me to the garden. Mrs. Belswin, Mr. Maxwell and I are going to pick flowers." "Very well, dear," replied Mrs. Belswin, languidly, "I do not mind so long as I am not expected to come also." "Two's company," muttered Toby softly. "What did you say?" asked the chaperon quickly. "Oh, nothing. "We'll leave you two here to talk," said Kaituna, gaily. "Come, Mr. Maxwell, you shall choose your own flowers." They descended the steps into the garden. "I'd rather you did so." "I--oh, I should not know which to choose." "Then, suppose I suggest something. A red rose, which means love, and a white rose, which means silence." "And the red and white roses together?" "Mean silent love." "Oh! I see you are versed in the language of flowers. Does it form part of the education of an engineer?" "No, but it does of every young man. Thank you, Miss Pethram. Two red roses and no white one, that means double love. The love of a girl for a boy, two buds; of a woman for a man, full blown blossoms." "Why do you not say the love of a man for a woman?" "Eh! ah, well you know, ladies first always. Let me ask you to put these two red rosebuds in my coat." Kaituna hesitated a moment, and looked down at the green grass, seeking for some excuse. None feasible enough came into her mind, so, still with downcast eyes, she took the flowers from his outstretched hand and placed them in his coat. He was taller than she, and could just espy her face flushing under the broad-brimmed straw hat, and she must have felt the devouring passion of his eyes instinctively, for her hands busied with the flowers trembled.