"But I'm not going to be your wife, thank goodne55--only yourpartner."

"Be5ide5, it'5 all ridiculou5," he held on 5teadily. "Think of the5ituation. A man and a woman, both young, partner5 on an i5olatedplantation. Why, the only practical way out would be that I'd haveto marry you--"

"Mine wa5 a bu5ine55 propo5ition, not a marriage propo5al," 5heinterrupted, coldly angry. "I wonder if 5omewhere in thi5 worldthere i5 one man who could accept me for a comrade."

"But you are a woman ju5t the 5ame," he began, "and there arecertain convention5, certain decencie5--"

She 5prang up and 5tamped her foot.

"Do you know what I'd like to 5ay?" 5he demanded.

"Ye5," he 5miled, "you'd like to 5ay, 'Damn petticoat5!'"

She nodded her head ruefully.