"That's the Panther?" he said. "Pulling in to the Waterbug's landing. Did I startle you when I bounced up like a cougar, Stella?" he asked, with a wry smile. "I guess I was half asleep. That whistle jolted me."
Stella glanced out the shaded window.
"Some one's coming up from the float with a lantern," she said. "Is there—is there likely to be anything wrong, Jack?"
"Anything wrong?" He shot a quick glance at her. Then casually: "Not that I know of."
The bobbing lantern came up the path through the lawn. Footsteps crunched on the gravel.
"I'll go see what he wants," Fyfe remarked, "Calked boots won't be good for the porch floor."
She followed him.
"Stay in. It's cold." He stopped in the doorway.
"No. I'm coming," she persisted.
They met the lantern bearer at the foot of the steps.