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blossom: frangipani, magnolia, the scarlet tulip trees. The garden finished at a low, ornamental wall that dripped with blue and yellow rock flowers.
    Melanie gazed down over the vista of treetops and heavily thatched roofs at the close streets of the town. The dome of the mosque gleamed gold in the glaring sun, its sides, encrusted with semiprecious stones gathered from the beaches, gave back a gaudy glitter. The other churches stood out whitely against the excessive blueness of the sea, and between them huddled the countless stucco dwellings, the bazaars, the shops, the offices of the exporters and shipping agents.
    “ The view is good is it not? ” Ramon, at her side, had gestured toward the sea. “ Before you came I had grown a little tired of it, but I can see that you are bewitched and remember how I, also, was entranced when first I saw it. Senorita, how long will you be here, at Port Fernando? ”
    “ I ’ m not sure. Two or three months, perhaps. ”
    “ That is good. Is Mrs. Paget your duenna? ”
    Melanie gave an uncontrolled little laugh and Ramon ’ s dark eyes glowed. The pretty smile, the white throat, the soft, husky voice. She was not beautiful in the stereotyped way that many of his countrywomen were beautiful, but she had tenderness, an inner light, and no girl with such a lovely mouth could be so cold as this Melanie would have one believe her.
    “ Mrs. Paget is my cousin, ” she said.
    “ Your parents are in England? ”
    “ I have no parents. My father was in the navy—he died in the Far East when I was a child—and my mother died four years ago. ”
    “ My poor Melanie! So you are alone, except for Mrs. Paget. ” He let a minute slip by, then asked smoothly, “ I am not quite sure how you are related to Mr. Brent. Is he, in some measure, your guardian? ”
    “ Of course not. Stephen was just a shipboard acquaintance who happened to have the same destination. ”
    “ Yet it seems to me that he appoints himself your formidable big brother. I do not care for Stephen Brent. ” Seeing that this lack of fondness probably ha d a stronger counterpart i n Stephen, Melanie said nothing. She picked a saffron blossom from the wall and sniffed at it. Urgently, Ramon moved to face her. He was not much taller than she and took no pains to veil his expression.
    “ Is it permitted that we dine alone somewhere? There is a place called the Miramar where one can have a good dinner and also dance. Nice people go there, and I would take great care of you and see you early to your hotel. Is it possible that Mrs. Paget would consent? ”
    “ She might. ”
    “ And if she did? ”
    Ramon was young, handsome and smiling, his boldness just a scrap of audacious. To Melanie he was in part an answer to the yearning of her unfledged heart, in part an escape from Elfrida. With a flash of daring she replied, “ I would like to go to the Miramar, senor . ”
    “ Then I will certainly win Mrs. Paget ’ s permission! ”
    After which he seized her hand and pressed his lips to her wrist.
    “ Senorita ... ” he stopped himself and stood very straight. Stephen had come upon them, had paused to regard with complete distaste the fire in the eyes of Ramon, the pink flags in Melanie ’ s cheeks.
    “ We ’ re going now, ” he said. “ There ’ s no need to use the senor ’ s car. We ’ ll go in mine. ”
    “ I didn ’ t know you had one at Mindoa, ” she managed.
    “ Didn ’ t you? ” he said abruptly, but offered no enlightenment.
    The three of them moved off together, toward the driveway where Senor Perez chatted conventionally with Elfrida. Goodbyes were exchanged. Ramon bent to speak into the back of the car.
    “ I will give myself the pleasure of calling upon you later today, senor a , ” he said. “ I have a favor to beg of you. ”
    “ Why not ask it now? ” Elfrida queried graciously.
    “ It will keep for a few hours. ” He stepped back and addressed his final farewell exclusively to Melanie.