They walked down the beach till they came to some steps that led up to an unoccupied cottage. They sat down on the steps.
“To think that fellow could say anything like that about us!” exclaimed Hattie, passionately.
“It is dreadful,” acknowledged Mabel.
“Dreadful! Why, it’s awful! He said we were bold! Oh! Ugh! How I hate him! How I hate him!”
“Don’t get so excited, Hattie.”
“Why, haven’t I every reason to get excited? Oh, I’d like to tell Mr. Jack Diamond what I think of him!”
Mabel sat still and looked out upon the water.
“He didn’t mean for us to hear it,” she said, after a time.
“But he said it! It’s just as bad!”
Pretty soon there was a queer sound in Mabel’s throat. Hattie looked at her in astonishment. Mabel was sobbing.