‘Then if you won’t, I will. Give me the key this instant!’
‘It is mine, and I am not going to give it up!’
‘Come, Ida,’ said Herbert, weary of the altercation; ‘any one would think you had made away with it! Let us have it for peace’s sake.’
‘It’s no business of yours.’
He whistled. However, at that moment the door-bell rang.
It was to admit a couple of old ladies, whom both the young people viewed as very dull company; and the story of the illness of ‘my brother, Lord Northmoor,’ as related by their mother, had become very tedious, so that as soon as possible they both sauntered out on the beach.
‘I wonder when uncle will send for you!’ Ida said. ‘He must give you a good allowance now.’
‘Don’t talk of it, Ida; it makes me sick to think of it. I say—is that the old red rock where they saw the last of the poor little kid?’
‘Yes; that was where his hat was.’
‘Did you find it? Was it washed up?’