Sheila was not hungry, but she enjoyed watching and listening. A rather handsome lady opposite was making advances to their party with an air of assurance and friendly patronage which rather amused Sheila. “A regular old hotel stager,” whispered Ronald to her in an aside, “would know the sort anywhere. Keeps her husband in good order, one can see. Rather a fine woman, but I don’t care for her style.” Then there were the usual habitués of a health resort—a wife with a delicate husband, a husband with a delicate wife, a mother with a little asthmatic boy (who would have been better in bed at such an hour), a few travellers bent on pleasure and relaxation rather than health. Sheila tried to piece histories on to the different faces, and Ronald made some comical remarks and shrewd guesses. But the party was not large for the size of the hotel. The season was quite early. It was not often so full as this till after Christmas. A rather wet summer and the threatened outbreak of influenza had frightened a good many people off before the usual time. “I think I’m glad of it,” said Sheila. “It is such fun watching them. They are all rather quiet now, but I suppose they will make more noise when they get to know each other.” “We must try and set a good example,” answered Ronald. “Now come on to the verandah outside and see the moonlight on the sea.” The covered verandah outside the drawing-room, with its comfortable chairs and lounges, was quite an institution at the New. Although on the entrance side the drawing-room appeared a ground-floor room, from the verandah one looked right down over the terraced garden with a sheer drop on to the next level of twenty or thirty feet. The view over the harbour was lovely, the town lights and those of the ships gleaming out in the soft darkness. “There goes the _Plymouth Castle_,” said Ronald, pointing out the vanishing lights of the great steamer. Sheila waved her hand in a parting salutation. “Good-bye, dear old ship. I liked being on you very much, but I don’t want to be on you now, for you have brought us to the most charming and delightful place. Oh, how happy I am going to be here!” (_To be continued._) FROCKS FOR TO-MORROW. BY “THE LADY DRESSMAKER.” [Illustration: THE TUNIC SKIRT.]