She waved a careless hand, and he, still smiling, saluted again and hastened after his men.

She was certainly unconventional, this English girl, quite superbly so.  She was also sublimely and completely irresistible.

Did she guess of the power that was hers as she turned back into the little garden?  Did some dim suggestion of a spell yet dormant present itself as she stood thus on the threshold of her woman’s kingdom?  Possibly, for her face was thoughtful, and remained so for quite ten seconds after her new playmate’s departure.

At the end of the ten seconds she kissed Cinders, with the remark, “Chappie, that little Frenchman is a trump.  I’m sure Jack would think so.”  She and Jack Forest generally saw things in the same light, which may have been the reason that Chris valued his opinion so highly.

She postponed her visit to the shore till the afternoon in consideration of the fact that her sense of boredom had completely evaporated.  After all, what was there to be bored about?  Life was quite interesting again.

The tide was on the ebb when she finally set forth.  She directed her steps towards a little patch of firm sand which she regarded as peculiarly her own.  The shore was deserted as usual.  The bonnes preferred the plage.

Would he be there before her, she wondered?  Yes; almost at once she spied him in the distance.  He had discarded his uniform, in favour of white linen.  She regretted his preference somewhat, but admitted to herself that linen might be cooler.

He was very busy with a swagger-cane, drawing in the sand, far too intent to note her approach, and as he drew he hummed a madrigal in his soft voice.

Noiselessly Chris drew near, a dancing imp of mischief in her eyes.  She wanted to get a glimpse of the work of art that he was elaborating with such care before he discovered her.  But his sensibilities were too subtle for her.  Quite suddenly he became aware of her and whizzed round.

He made her a low bow, but Chris waived the ceremony of greeting with impatient curiosity.  “I want to see what you are doing.  I may look?”

“But certainly, mademoiselle.”

She came eagerly forward and looked.

“Oh,” she said, “is that the dragon?  What an awesome creature!  Is he really like that?  How splendidly you have done his scales!  And what frightful claws!  Why”—­she turned upon him—­“you are an artist!”

He shrugged his shoulders, with his ready smile.  “I am whatever mademoiselle desires.”

“How nice!” said Chris.  “Well, go on being an artist, please.  Draw something else!”

“I think it is your turn now, mademoiselle,” he said.

“Oh, but I’m no good at it,” she protested.  “I can’t compete.  You are much too clever.”

He laughed at that and began again.

She seated herself on a rock and watched him, deeply interested.