HER SECOND CHOICE .sx Where is Miss Virginia Maitland ?sx " Sally blinked the sleep out of her eyes as she flung herself from amongst the cushions to the ground .sx " Oh , I see her .sx Thanks .sx If she's not away in ten minutes you might bring out tea , Mary .sx Though I hope she will be , but .sx .. bring it .sx " She was going up the path as she spoke , steering straight towards the caller who was standing beside the porch - a fair-haired girl of middle height , with a heavily-powdered skin , wearing a faultlessly cut golfing suit of vivid checked material and smart brogues .sx She moved forward as Sally came up , and they met between two stiff rows of boxwood which bordered the scantily-filled flower beds .sx " Were you having an extra half hour of beauty sleep ?sx Sorry I've butted in and brought you out of the land of dreams .sx " Virginia Maitland spoke first , holding out her hand .sx " I heard on the links that you came off the steamer this forenoon , so I just came right away to see if it was true .sx It's lovely that you're here .sx Are you down for good ?sx " " Or for bad !sx Whichever you like to call it !sx " Though they had known each other in Glasgow their friendship - probably because of Murray - had never been warm , and Sally had less wish than ever now to have anything to say to her ; she could not be any other than civil , however , and she shook her hand with the best possible grace she could muster , even if her smile was not too expansive .sx " The others are coming on Monday ; I'm having it all to my lonesome till then .sx Will you sit out here ?sx It's too perfect a day to waste in the house .sx " " Isn't it !sx I'm never in from morning till night .sx We might as well have hung out in Glasgow if we didn't want any more than to sit inside ; I told my aunt this morning .sx " Sally had moved across to an old wooden bench under one of the gean trees , and Virgina slipped gracefully down on it , settling her skirt with a carefulness which made Sally very conscious of her own crumpled frock .sx " I stayed in all day yesterday to satisfy her , but one day was enough for me .sx I wasn't going to set up as an invalid for all the rest of my natural life simply because I had a dip in the bay .sx " Sally had been wondering if she would mention that .sx She felt her face grow hot , but she forced her voice to steadiness .sx " Are you all right now ?sx " she inquired .sx " You had a ghastly experience .sx I read all about it in the papers .sx " " I don't think anybody has missed it ; they put us in the limelight , right enough .sx I wish you saw my mail this morning .sx " Virginia Maitland , who was an American , had come from the States only the previous year , but she had been educated in Brussels , and her rather high-pitched voice had a peculiar intonation - something which was half a drawl , and which had yet a certain carefully cultivated sweetness .sx " Beastly hard luck for me on the first day I was out in my new boat , wasn't it ?sx Proper birthday celebrations !sx Though poor Murray Erskine was worse than I was , judging by his nerves after he was fished out .sx He got the fright of his life .sx " " The poor boy who was drowned got worse than any of you .sx Are you feeling really better ?sx " Sally repeated .sx " The paper said you were suffering badly from shock .sx " " I soon got over it - slept like a top the whole night through .sx I would have been out yesterday if it hadn't been for the doctor and Aunt Minnie ; it was the pair of them who kept me in bed .sx Murray didn't feel so badly yesterday , either ; his mother telephoned to me in the afternoon .sx But I needn't think I can tell you anything about him , of course .sx " Virginia smiled sweetly , her blue eyes , very candid and innocent , not leaving Sally's face for one single second , nor did they miss anything .sx " It's you who ought to be giving me the latest bulletin .sx Did you think he looked dreadfully shaken ?sx Aunt Minnie vowed he was green when he left our house in the morning .sx " He looked just as usual by evening , at any rate ; I didn't see him earlier in the day .sx " Mary Jardine had emerged from the porch , carrying a small table and Sally paused a moment while she signed to her where to put it .sx " He was in our house in the evening , but I didn't speak to him more than a few minutes , " she said carelessly .sx " He didn't stay long .sx " " Wasn't he feeling fit ?sx " " I don't know .sx I didn't ask .sx " The table had been deposited in front of her , and after making a return journey Mary had produced the tea tray from the porch , where she had placed it in readiness , and Sally paused again while she watched her progress with it down the uneven path .sx " We had a crowd in , and I happened to be dancing when he came - it was a celebration party , " she volunteered .sx " I suppose that was why he wouldn't stay .sx " " Celebrating his rescue from the watery deep ?sx And your getting him back safely !sx Even if he didn't come straight from London !sx " Sally laughed .sx " Not quite .sx I hadn't thought of that .sx We were celebrating my engagement to Jim Dunbar .sx " " Your - !sx I beg your pardon ?sx " Virginia had been in the act of picking off a tiny sprig of dried moss which had stuck to her skirt ; she stopped with it between her fingers and thumb , her mouth open .sx " Your engagement to - whom ?sx " " To Jim Dunbar .sx I don't suppose you know Jim - he and I have been pals for years .sx " Sally had crimsoned now under the incredulous stare levelled at her , and in spite of all her efforts the hand that lifted the teapot was shaking .sx " I hardly remember the time when I didn't know him , it's so long ago .sx You look almost as surprised as Murray did !sx He didn't know till he came to the house .sx Virginia sat staring .sx She had come to see how the land lay , and to rub in the fact of Murray's having been with her , and the sudden taking of the wind out of her sails left her speechless for the moment .sx But she was quick to recover .sx " Anybody would be surprised !sx You were engaged to Murray Erskine .sx " " Yes , when he went away to London .sx But I had time to discover my mistake and change my mind .sx I only waited for him to come back to tell him .sx It's Jim now , anyhow - that's settled , " Sally declared lightly .sx " His not coming straight back left me to my own devices a little longer , that was all .sx Will you have a scone ?sx Mary didn't guess she was going to have visitors , so I can't offer you anything in the way of cake .sx " " You've given me enough !sx " There was no mistaking the delight in Virginia's voice .sx " I didn't think I was going to get news like this !sx " Then she laughed , a sweet little laugh , with pleased satisfaction and triumph in every note .sx " He'll be coming down to tell me himself ; I'm nearly certain to have a visit of him to-day .sx " She declared delightedly .sx " Or he'll be ringing me up ; he promised to come back this week if he could , and he's certain to come now .sx When's the wedding going to be ?sx Very soon ?sx " Sally shook her head .sx She had saved herself from covert pity and malicious mockery , but that was not altering the soreness of her heart , and the other girl's eager anticipation added to her load .sx " It won't be soon .sx There's nothing settled , but it won't be for a year at least .sx " " A whole year !sx That's a mistake , darling .sx " From Virginia's point of view it was a big one , but Murray was free - that dwarfed everything else to her at the moment , and the glow of delight was still on her face as she rose to go .sx " I'd pull it off in a hurry this time if I were you ; you might find your new man as provoking as Murray has been , and , having made a second choice , you don't want to make a third .sx Murray won't waste any of his time , I'm very sure .sx He'll be dying to let everybody see how he appreciated his freedom .sx " Maybe .sx " Sally gallantly ignored the thrusts .sx He's welcome - I'll not mind .sx What has happened to your motor boat ?sx " she asked , moving by her side between the rows of boxwood .sx " Is it as the bottom of the bay ?sx " " Not it ; it was brought in not long after we got ashore , and two men repaired it yesterday .sx I'm going round to Whiting Bay in it this evening .sx " Virginia lifted her bag of golf clubs , which had been propped against the porch , and swung the strap over her shoulder as they went down to the gate .sx " When I wrote to Murray in London and told him I was getting a motor boat he was horrified ; he wrote me pages and pages about the danger of it , and all about his fear of what might happen to me , " she confided .sx " I laughed at him at the time - I remembered that when we were both struggling in the water .sx Whiting Bay won't see me if he comes to Brodick to-night !sx " Sally made no comment .sx Every word was like a stab , because she knew that was what it was meant to be she kept her smile .sx Virginia scarcely seemed to notice that she was not answered .sx " Aunt Minnie wants me to sell it , and Murray will back her up , I know , but I'm not going to do it .sx You'll have to come out in it with me some day , " she invited her .sx You'll love being in it - it's a dandy little thing , and I'll promise not to drown you .sx Oh !sx - I'm going away without seeing your ring ; I haven't even noticed it .sx It's quite pretty .sx To anybody who likes solitaires .sx " Her tone made it very plain that she did not .sx Sally withdrew her hand , her chin going up .sx " I happen to be one .sx " " Well .sx .. It's your ring , not mine ; it's all a matter of taste , " Virginia laughed sweetly .sx Then she made another bid for some more information .sx " When did you get it ?sx " she asked .sx " Yesterday .sx " " Yesterday ?sx Only yesterday ?sx " she stared curiously .sx " You had your celebration in a hurry !sx You didn't do it long before Murray arrived home , anyhow !sx No wonder nobody heard a hint of it !sx " " Lots of things go on without folk getting hints about them .sx Last night was the only night that suited us for our party ; the house has to be got ready for shutting up on Monday .sx It's a week since everyone was invited .sx " She could say that , at least , with perfect truth , Sally thought , stopping as they reached the gate , and thankful that they were at it .sx Virginia scrutinised her face sharply , then gave another sweet laugh .sx " Quite nice that it all panned out so beautifully !sx Murray won't forget this week - coming all the way from London to spend my birthday with me , and getting half drowned one day , then being made a present of his freedom the next !sx I'll come for you to go for a sail - if I don't happen to have Murray down .sx Cheerio !sx " She took herself off , turning at the corner of the brae to wave her hand , but there was no one to wave it to , for Sally had disappeared .sx She went on more quickly then , going through the village and past the handful of shops without meeting anyone she knew , and presently , leaving the shore road and climbing up again , she came to Sannoxbrae , the house which she and her aunt had rented for the summer .sx Two smart deck chairs were set out on the trimly-shaven lawn , but both were empty ; so was the room which she called the lounge when she went indoors , putting down her golf clubs in the hall .sx