"I was out. I have been shopping. I met Mr. Steell in the park and we had a lovely walk." Slyly she added: "I am afraid I returned too soon. I see you're both busy." "Never too busy for you, Ray," smiled Helen trying to hide her confusion, while Kenneth grinned broadly. The young girl laughed as she flung down on the sofa her muff and fur neck-piece. Roguishly she said: "Lovemaking so early in the day. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?" Kenneth liked to tease his sister-in-law, but the young girl was quite his equal when it came to a battle of wits and it was not often that she gave him the opportunity. "What time do you do your love making?" he demanded. Her cheeks reddened a little as she retorted: "I'm never so foolish. I leave that to you married people. My purpose in life is far more serious." "Oh, come now," protested her brother-in-law, "I've noticed you and Steell spooning often enough." Stylishly and tastefully dressed, her face beaming with animation, her eyes sparkling with intelligence, Kenneth's sister-in-law was a pretty, wholesome looking girl. She had beautiful blond hair like her sister, and fine, white teeth that told of good health and perfect digestion. Helen's junior only by three years, she was still unmarried and for the present at least seemed more inclined to remain single and partake of life's pleasures than incur the risks and responsibilities of matrimony. Not that she had been without offers. A girl as attractive and clever could hardly have failed to please the sterner sex. All sorts and conditions of men had prostrated themselves at her tiny, well-shod feet, but, capricious and headstrong, she would have none of them. She was what might be called a singular girl. She liked men, not because of their sex, but because their point of view was different, their grasp of things stronger than her own. One day she must marry. She knew that. It was, she insisted laughingly, an ignoble state of slavery, a humiliating, degrading condition of subjection to the male which every woman must endure, necessary perhaps, but an ordeal to be put off, something unpleasant to be postponed as long as possible, like the taking of a dose of unsavory physic or having a tooth pulled at the dentist's. Meantime, heart whole and fancy free, she enjoyed life to the limit and kept her admirers guessing. "Oh, I saw such lovely things in the stores," exclaimed the young girl. "I wish I had the money to buy them all." "You will have when I get back from South Africa," he laughed. "Don't forget," she laughed. "I'll hold you to that promise. Helen is witness." "I swear it!" he said with mock solemnity. "You shall have carte blanche in any Fifth Avenue shop to the amount of--$1.75." "Will you be ready in time?" she laughed, looking around with dismay at the litter of open trunks. "I won't, if you stay here chattering like a magpie." "What time does the steamer sail?" "Eleven o'clock," said Helen.