there were few passengers on the plane and Gavin was quickly through the customs . Gay ! Gavin ! the girl and her luggage had disappeared and they were alone together . the porter brought Gavin &apos;s bag out to the taxi . just a moment , darling , Gavin pressed her hand and smiled . I want to check up on the flights back . Gay went out to the waiting taxi , and then found that in the excitement of meeting Gavin she had left her sun-glasses on the veranda . she went quickly back to fetch them . Gavin and the girl who had got off the plane with him were talking . he was writing something in his pocket-book , with a sick feeling of despair Gay knew that of course it was her address . Gavin joined her and at once dispelled her fears . that little bit you saw me talking to , her father is a big land agent , she says that he sometimes has farms for lease &amp;hellip; you know that &apos;s what I want , Gay , a farm and you ! shall we go over to the little caf&amp;eacute; opposite after dinner ? Gay , sitting opposite Gavin on the terrace could hardly believe that she was the same girl , miserable , shy , who had sat at the little table for the first time a few days ago . Gavin raised his glass to her and smiled and Gay &apos;s heart turned over . I &apos;d like to do that . Gavin drained his glass and refilled it . and then we &apos;ll go for a stroll along the beach . a moon like this must n&apos;t be wasted . he gestured towards the bay where the full moon was just rising over the rocks , then laid his hand on hers . Gay smiled at him again , happy beyond belief , knowing that now Gavin was in love with her and her only , yet remembering for a second the kisses she had seen him giving Elaine . all that was part of the past , she would put it behind her . she would never be jealous again , would even take Larry &apos;s advice and look the other way if need be . I say ! Gavin was looking over her shoulder . that &apos;s a pretty girl ! Gay glanced behind her , is n&apos;t she lovely , she &apos;s French , a very well known model I believe . she only arrived today . that is her father &apos;s yacht in the bay . the people she is with are the Belgians I told you about who have been so nice to me . does everyone go to the caf&amp;eacute; opposite after dinner ? Gavin enquired casually . no , the older people usually stay here and have coffee and some go to the night club up the road . Bernice came over and was introduced . Gay felt happy and proud as she made the introduction . we are going to the night club , Bernice said , are you coming ? no , we thought that we &apos;d go opposite . Gay did n&apos;t want to do anything other than be alone with Gavin and later under the light of the glorious moon hear his explanation of everything and in shared kisses put it all behind her . they came out of dinner and Gay went upstairs to get her stole , the night was warm , the sky cloudless , but it might be cooler later on the beach . she looked at herself in the mirror , wanting so much to look lovely for Gavin . she lightly powdered her face , drew a pale lipstick across her mouth , picked up her stole and ran down the stairs to where she had left him . the hall was empty , and she looked round thinking that perhaps Gavin had gone outside when Larry came through , tall and elegant in his white dinner jacket . hullo , you &apos;re looking very lovely . thank you , Larry , I &apos;m feeling very happy . you are ? good girl . everything all right now ? oh yes , thanks a lot for your advice . Gavin is here ! and before I had time to write ! here ? you mean the man you were dining with is Gavin ? Larry asked , looking surprised . yes , is n&apos;t it wonderful ? he flew over from Barcelona and is going to stay two days . I can n&apos;t think where he is , he said he would wait here . she looked around . he &apos;s in the bar &amp;hellip; . Larry looked at her a little strangely , paused as if he were going to say something , then with a wave of his hand walked off to join a smart looking woman . Gay , a little puzzled , went through to the bar . Doc and Lilyan were sitting just inside having coffee . come and join us and bring your boy friend , Doc called . no , Doc ! Lilyan remonstrated . they want to be alone . I &apos;ve booked a table at the caf&amp;eacute; , Doc said , they are packed tonight so come and join us if you can n&apos;t find a table for two . Gay thanked him and walked out on to the terrace thinking that perhaps Gavin had bought a drink and taken it outside . she looked round scanning the tables , then caught her breath , a cold hand seeming to clutch her heart . Gavin was seated at a small table in a shadowy corner talking animatedly to Simone . as Gay watched he offered the girl a cigarette and lit it , his hands cupping hers in an intimate way . Gay stood irresolute for a moment , half decided to go back and join Lilyan and Doc , while she wanted to do no more than run upstairs to her room , knowing that Gavin although he had told her that he loved her , was already flirting with a girl that he had only met a few minutes before . Larry &apos;s advice flashed through her mind , but she turned away , giving a little gesture of hopelessness , knowing that her pride would never allow her to look the other way and aware too , that her love for Gavin had already lessened , although she was suffering the pangs of jealousy . Gay ! Gavin came up behind her and took her arm , where have you been ? Simone stood behind him , cool and poised . come along , he took them both by the arm , now show me where this caf&amp;eacute; is . Gay withdrew her arm on the pretext of adjusting her stole , almost shuddering at Gavin &apos;s touch . the caf&amp;eacute; was crowded as Doc had predicted and Gay led them over to his table , glad that she was not to be alone with Gavin . the others were all dancing and as Gay drew out a chair and sat down Gavin , without a word , swept Simone on to the floor . it does n&apos;t mean anything , Gay told herself desperately , trying to understand Gavin &apos;s point of view and remembering the advice that Larry had given her , while she felt wretched beyond words . she shivered a little despite the warmth of the night and turning round , reached for her stole which was on the back of the chair . without meaning to spy she caught sight of Gavin and Simone . they were dancing very closely and she saw Gavin lay his cheek against the French girl &apos;s and whisper something in her ear . Simone looked up at him smiling and nodded . feeling sick with unhappiness , Gay drank her coffee , aware now as she had really known before that there was no hope of happiness in the future for her and Gavin . if he could come all the way to Marjorca to see her and then immediately start flirting with the first pretty girl that he met , and in front of her , it showed only too plainly that his affection for her had no depths at all . his behaviour was not only boorish and in the worst of taste but it was unkind beyond words . she fumbled with the cigarette packet which lay on the table not wanting to smoke but needing some action to help her control her feelings . come and dance , Doc &apos;s cheery voice came as a lifeline and Gay got up quickly , managing a smile . as he swung her on to the floor Gay saw Gavin and Simone go through the doorway that led down to the beach . Gay closed her eyes for a moment in disgust . she was fully aware that Gavin would make love to the French girl on the sands , and no doubt he would come back soon and after Simone had left expect her to accept his kisses on the way back to the hotel . and that &apos;s the man whom you have been eating your heart out over ? Doc nodded towards the door . you may consider him a man , I would say he was a mentally adolescent cad . oh , Doc &amp;hellip; Gay protested weakly , you do n&apos;t know Gavin . I &apos;ve only met him today but I think I can safely say that I know him a great deal better than you do . Doc gave her hand a shake . wake up Gay , and do n&apos;t even contemplate throwing yourself away on a chap like that . you &apos;re a fine girl , intelligent , and pretty , and I had thought you were sensible too . do n&apos;t make a fool of yourself over someone who does n&apos;t care two jots for your feelings . if he behaves like this now what is your married life going to be like ? hell . Doc answered for her . just hell . never able to trust him out of your sight and having to put on a brave face and pretend that you do n&apos;t mind whenever he flirts with another woman . he will you know , always , and you are n&apos;t the type who is tough enough to change him . Gay nodded . I know that you &apos;re right Doc , I think now that I do realise that , and in any case , she added a little sadly , if I did change Gavin , he would n&apos;t be the same , if you know what I mean . you sound like Alice in Wonderland , Doc gently mocked her , and I &apos;m glad you &apos;re beginning to see that you &apos;re wasting your time on that chap . now let him go and you will n&apos;t have to wait long for the right man for you to come along . if I was thirty years younger and were n&apos;t married to the sweetest wife in the world I &apos;d marry you myself . Gay laughed , Doc was so kind and nice and she hoped that one day she would be able to see the situation as it obviously appeared to everyone else . Doc asked Lilyan to dance and once again Gay found herself alone at the table feeling self-conscious and awkward , sure that people were talking about the way Gavin was behaving since they had seen them dining together . she opened her bag to get out her compact and saw Grace &apos;s letter . she drew it out and opened it , glad to be able to occupy herself . so glad that you are having such a lovely time , dearie , it ran . your cards are lovely . I rang up Miss Harland and have been over to sit with her father and do what I can for him so that she can get out to do her shopping . he &apos;s getting on well but is pretty helpless still with his broken arm . no other news except that Elaine is engaged and going to marry a foreigner &amp;hellip; . Gay read the rest of the letter then put it back in her bag . Elaine was engaged , to the man she had spent so much time with at her party . that was why Gavin had come back to her . everything was quite clear now , and to her own surprise Gay felt no heartbreak , rather a sense of relief now that she knew why Gavin had come to see her . because she was second best . the others came back to the table , all of them making a fuss of her and at once she felt happier . Gay loved them for their warm sympathy , knowing that they were real friends , even if they were new ones . that is a pretty dress , Lilyan commented , obviously sensing Gay &apos;s distress and in a way that Doc , as a man , could not understand , knowing that Gay was as much ashamed for Gavin at the way he was behaving as she was hurt for herself . I made it myself , Gay tried to speak normally . 