Carrie blushed and Mattie looked queer, but neither girl made any reply. In desperation Polly began to talk very fast about nothing at all, and in a few minutes the party had climbed over the dunes and were on the beach.
The fire was the most important thing to be attended to, and when the wood was piled, Mr. Williamson handed a match to Ella Mooney.
"We'll ask the honor guest to light the fire," he said, with a smile.
Ella was such a quiet child that one had to look at her intently to realize the charm of her seriousness. She had bright eyes that missed nothing of what went on around her, and though thinner than Jess, she was more muscular. It was easy to see that she lived an outdoor life and that she was much alone. She rarely spoke unless first spoken to, and then she replied readily enough and with a charming smile that lighted up her sober face.
"But she has a good time, just listening," said Polly to herself, after watching her guest a few minutes. "She likes to hear the fun and she laughs at all the jokes."
"Tell about the club," suggested Ella Mooney, forgetting to be shy. "Your father said you had a Riddle Club, and I'd love to hear about what you do. I never belonged to any club, because I don't know many boys or girls."
"Don't you go to school?" Mattie Helms asked curiously.
"No, I have a governess who comes and teaches me," answered Ella. "Daddy doesn't like to have me go away to school, and the Sunrise school isn't very good."
So Polly, with the active help of the other members, tried to tell her something about the Riddle Club, and what they did and something of the experiences they had had.
"What nice times you have together!" said Ella wistfully.