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brought to the city.
    'You've picked a lovely day to be married,' Betsy exclaimed.
    'Only Benedict picked it,' Hero reminded her.
    Betsy chuckled. 'You look quite resigned to your fate to me! Still, he is rather special, isn't he? You know, Hero, I'm beginning to think you're a lucky girl. I wish I had been the one who had had to marry him! He only
    had to smile that devastating smile at me —'
    'And thinking something beastly!' Hero observed.
    'I like his beastly thoughts!' Betsy declared with a sigh. 'He's so — so masculine!'
    'A masculine beast!' Hero concurred, missing her step.
    'Well, I think he's madly attractive,' Betsy insisted. 'I'd just love to be in your shoes. I can't think why I ever turned him over to you! And you can't kid me that you're not a bit keen yourself, Hero Kaufman, or you never would have worn your mother's dress to be married in!'
    Hero was saved from having to decide if there was any justice in this accusation by a group of people coming along the pavement towards them. The young men whistled and cheered, and the girls giggled, making much of Hero's unexpected appearance.
    'You getting married today! Pongezi!' they called after her.
    'Oh dear!' said Hero, beginning to run, 'I'd forgotten there would be other people around.'
    'When isn't there?' Betsy retorted. She was enjoying the fuss as she enjoyed any admiration. 'They're not doing you any harm by congratulating you on getting married!'
    Hero slowed her steps. 'I suppose not. Oh, how I wish today was over!'
    Betsy favoured her with a wide, innocent stare. 'Am I to draw the obvious conclusions from that remark?' she asked.
    Hero went scarlet. 'Betsy, please don't! For two pins I'd run away here and now, only I couldn't do that to Benedict, could I? It isn't his fault I've got myself into this mess!'
    'He tore up your letter—'
    'He thought I was writing to thank him for lunch. And I should have done, but I didn't even think of it.' She was still reproaching herself inwardly when they reached the bookshop. 'I wish I hadn't come,' Hero said flatly in the
    doorway. 'It was silly!'
    'Silly or not, we're here now, so we may as well go in,' Betsy encouraged her. She flung open the door and pushed Hero into the shop in front of her. 'Your favourite customer has come to show you her wedding finery!' she announced in a loud, trumpeting voice, 'Doesn't she look lovely?'
    The assistants gathered round, wiping their black hands shyly on their khaki trousers. 'You look beautiful, Miss
    Kaufman! Mr. Carmichael was here a few minutes ago. He bought many books, most of them for you. He asked particularly what kind of books you like-'
    'Did he indeed?' said Betsy.
    Hero wished more than ever that she hadn't come. She stretched out a hand and took down the book she had been about to look at the other day when Benedict had taken it from her. Then her eyes widened as she stared down at the title. No wonder the shop assistant had laughed at her! The Problems of Drought and Erosion in African Farming by Benedict Carmichael! Her Benedict Carmichael? It had to be!
    'I'll take this with me,' she said in a quite unrecognizable voice.
    'But you can't want that!' Betsy objected. 'It looks as dull as ditch-water!'
    'I want it. Will you lend me ninety-five shillings, Betsy? I haven't enough to pay for it myself. I'll give it back to you some time.'
    'You can put it on Mr. Carmichael's account, Miss Kaufman,' one of the assistant's suggested.
    'No, I couldn't do that!' Hero looked uncomfortable at the thought. 'You'll have to hide it, Betsy, until I can put it in my suitcase out of sight. I don't want Benedict to see it.'
    'My dear, the things you ask me to do for you! Just where, do you suppose, am I going to hide a tome like that?'
    'I don't know,' Hero said helplessly. 'Only please do! Couldn't you put it in your father's car?'
    Betsy's lack of enthusiasm showed clearly on her face. 'I suppose I can, if I must,' she complained. 'Though if it were me, and I bought it at