The two girls escorted Eileen and Mr. Barnes to the door, Ted offering to see them to the car. As they came out on the porch, Leslie uttered a little cry of delight. The storm, which all had momentarily forgotten in the later excitement, was over. The ragged clouds were driving by in a strong northwest wind, and a few stars could be seen peeping through the rifts, while, best of all, the water had already retreated several feet, though the crash of the breakers was still tremendous.
As Leslie and Phyllis returned to the room, they were startled to see Aunt Marcia, in a dressing-gown, peering out of the door of her room and blinking sleepily.
“What on earth are you two girls doing up at this unearthly hour?” she inquired. “I woke and thought I heard voices and came out to see!”
“Oh, we’ve been talking and watching the storm!” laughed Leslie. “It’s all over now, and the stars are shining. You’d better go back to bed, Aunt Marcia. The fire’s out and it’s very chilly!”
And as the good lady turned back into her room Leslie whispered to Phyllis, “And she slept through all that—and never knew! How can I be thankful enough!”
CHAPTER XIX
THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF ALL
“PHYLLIS! I’ve got a nibble, Phyllis! I believe I can land him, too. And it will be the first I’ve really managed to catch!” Leslie began to play her line, her hands fairly trembling with excitement.