It struck me as a very satisfactory thing to look upon this pleasant lady solely and simply as a human being. It is so seldom that we meet any one who can be looked upon in that light. "Madam," I said, "I greatly like your plan for putting yourselves out of the world for a time, but I find it difficult properly to designate myself." "Oh, anything will do," she said; "for instance, your reason for desiring to seclude yourself." "Very well, then," said I, "you may call me a 'Lover in Check.'" "Excellent!" she exclaimed,--"just the sort of person for this place; and what is the other one?" "Oh, he is an Understudy," I replied. "Delightful," she said; "I never saw one. And here come my brother and the Shell Man." I was now introduced formally by my new title to the Middle-Aged Man of the Sea, a hearty personage, with a curling beard, and to the Shell Man, who was tall, and wore spectacles. When my presence was explained, the brother was as cordial as the lady had been, and proffered any assistance which I might need during my sojourn on the island. When they took their leave, the Sand Lady urged me to inhabit her island as long as I pleased, and hoped that I and the Understudy would sometimes sail over to them, and see what it was to be on a Tangent. At this I shook my head, and they all laughed at me; but it was easy to see that they were people of very friendly dispositions. When I reported my interview to Walkirk, he remarked, "It is impossible to get away from people, but in all probability these folks will not come here again." "Perhaps not," I answered, and dropped the subject. XXIV. THE INTERPOLATION. "They did not seem in the least surprised to find us here," I said to Walkirk, as we were eating our dinner. "Who?" he asked. "Oh, the people who came over this morning? Quite likely they saw us when we were sailing this way. We passed their island at no great distance. There is no reason why they should object. Your soft hat and flannel shirt would not prevent them from seeing that you were a gentleman." I nodded, and sat silent for a time. "Walkirk," said I, "suppose we sail over to those people this afternoon? It might be interesting." "Very good," he answered, turning suddenly to watch a sea gull, which had made a great swoop toward us, as if attracted by the odors of our meal; "that will be an excellent thing to do." In making our way, that afternoon, in the direction of the Tangent, our course was not mathematically correct, for the wind did not favor us, and it was impossible to sail in a right line; but the sun was still high when we reached the larger island, and made the boat fast to a little pier.