"Well, if you'll stay till tomorrow, we'll have a race," I said.
She clasped her hands. "It would be fun, wouldn't it?" Then she paused. "But I don't think I ought to," she added regretfully.
"Why not?" I asked. "Are you too proud to share an island?"
She shrugged her shoulders, smiling. "No, I'm not proud; but it would put me in rather an awkward position if somebody found out."
"Nobody will find out," I said reassuringly. "The only person who will ever know anything about it is Rufus, and he's a tactful dog—aren't you, my son?"
Rufus, who was sitting up in expectation of some more biscuits, gave a corroborative wag of his tail.
"Besides," I went on, "you ought to give me a chance of returning your hospitality. I was hoping you'd come and have breakfast with me on the Scandal to-morrow."
"Oh!" she said frankly, "I'd love to. Please don't think I'm being silly about it, but I really have to be careful what I'm doing. You see, I'm not supposed to be here at all."
"Of course not," I said. "In fact, I don't believe you are here. Things like this don't happen in real life. I shall wake up in a minute and find you were just a delightful dream."
She laughed merrily. "Well, have some more tea first," she suggested, holding out the pot.