"What for?"
"Jack Groates asked me. He hadn't time to see his mother. And he wanted me to tell her he was gone in the boat."
"What boat?"
"The boat that tried—tried—" Jessie could not finish her sentence.
"Jack Groates didn't speak to you over the way at Mr. Mokes'. I know he didn't, for I could see quite well from here. He didn't say a word to you."
"No."
"When did he?"
"I—ran to the shore; I wanted to see. Jack sent me back. He wouldn't let me stay."
"That's one sensible thing he's done, anyway." Miss Perkins continued to sew, with lowered eyes, as if her existence depended on getting the seam done within a given time. "And I s'pose you wanted to catch your death o' cold. Done your best, anyhow, running all that way to the beach, in this wind, with nothing but a cobweb of a shawl! I wonder at you, Jessie! At your age."
Jessie was silent.