She stopped to pet them, then the groom led the way to the harness room.
It was a picturesque place, with its lacquered leather, its shining brass, its racing trophies, blue ribbons, gold-handled whips and crops, silver cups and medals.
"I'll telephone for my car," Justin said, "and send a boy down to Captain Stubbs and Miss Matthews. They'll probably go back in the boat, now that the storm is over."
With the message sent, and the smiling groom, pleased with Justin's generous tip, dismissed, the two were again alone.
"This is better," said Justin, as they settled themselves in front of the fire. "Now you'll get some color in your cheeks."
With her chin on her hand, she said slowly, "Do you know that nobody ever asked me to be his friend before?"
"That's luck for me. There'll be no one else to share——"
She glanced up at him with enchanting shyness. "The trouble with most men is, I imagine, that they don't want friendship—they want love, and that isn't easy for a woman to give, is it?"
Silence, then at last, uncertainly, "I suppose not."
"Any man can fall in love with a woman," she informed him, "but it seems to me that it must take certain kinds of men and women to be friends. That's why it seems so wonderful. Why, even if I married some one else, I could still be your friend, couldn't I?"