She argued it further, tapping the cigarette on her hand as if she were about to place it between her lips. "But you don't pay any attention when people say you oughtn't to smoke." Even then he did not know that a trap had been set for him. On the contrary, he thought he had an original idea of some beauty when he said impulsively, "I tell you what, I'll swear off if you will." She seemed to debate it through an agonizing second or two, while he looked at her with dog-like eyes. Then she smiled and gave him a strong hand. "All right," she said. "That's a bargain." Durland felt flooded with joy--not only at having saved a beloved woman but at having done it in just the right way. He picked up the package of cigarettes and flung it toward the sea. It did not quite reach the water and Caroline sprang up and brought it back to him. "I suppose you thought that was empty," she said. He tossed it away again without thanking her, but at last to her repeated clamors he yielded the information that he had given up smoking. "Oh, Durland," she said, "now you can come to the house again. Is that why you did it?" He did not want to deceive the girl, but he could not resist the temptation of allowing her to deceive herself. He did not answer directly; but rising, he said, "Anyone who wishes to swim to the barrels with me may now do so." It was more like an invitation than anything he had said all morning, and they were soon swimming side by side. Presently Mrs. Conway in a dark-blue silk bathing dress with ruffles appeared and dropped a string of pearls into the lap of the governess as if they had been beads. Pearl had never had such pearls in her hands before. They were heavier--much heavier than she had imagined, and brighter, more iridescent, better worth looking at. She was not given to envy, but she was aware of thinking that there was something slightly wrong with a world where Mrs. Conway had pearls and she had not. Antonia insisted on her putting them around her neck. "It's much safer--you can't drop them in the sand--Cousin Cora always does--that's Miss Wellington; she's no relation, but she likes us to call her cousin--she wants us to call her aunt, but mother says, 'Wait till she is.'" "Oh," said Pearl, conscious of a distinct pang, "is she going to be?" Antonia gave one of her head shakes. "Mother says, 'Say not the struggle nought availeth.' Older people make a lot of fun of their best friends, don't they?" "Would you like her for an aunt?" said Pearl.