the shops are for Christmas. Can't you stop and have some nice hot
chocolate and cakes with me, and afterwards choose a doll for yourself,
as a Christmas present from your old friend?"

As he put this temptation before her, he slowed down the car in front of
a shop with big glass windows full of sparkling cakes, and ribbon-tied
baskets of crystallized fruits. Through the windows Rosemary could see a
great many well-dressed people sitting at little marble tables, and it
would have been delightful to go in. But she shook her head. The sun
was setting over the sea. The sky was flooded with pink and gold, while
all the air was rosy with a wonderful glow which painted the mountains,
even the dappled-grey plane trees, and the fronts of the gaily decorated
shops.

The donkey women were leading their patient little animals away from the
stand on the sea promenade, up to Sorbio for the night; and their dark
faces under the queer, mushroom hats were ruddy and beautiful in the
rose-light.

"As soon as the sun goes down, it gets dark here," said Rosemary,
regretfully. "Thank you very much, but I'd rather go home now. You see,
I do _so_ want you to be there already, waiting to surprise Angel when
she comes in."

"No time even to buy a doll?"

"I'd rather go home, thank you. Besides, though I should like to have a
new doll, perhaps darling Evie would be sad if I played with another."

Hugh was obediently turning the car's bonnet towards Monte Carlo, and