"Nobody thinks of such a thing in that beautiful sun-soaked place," returned Miss Upton.
"Sun-stroke did you say?" asked Mrs. Whipp, looking up quickly.
"No." Miss Mehitable indulged in one frank laugh. "Sun-soaked."
"Sounds more like water-logged to me from your description," said the other sourly, returning to her dinner. "I don't see why you go there."
"For two reasons. First, because I love it better than any place on earth, and second, because it's good business. I do a better business there than I do here. You think it over, Charlotte, because I ought to let Nellie know."
"Well, you can let Nellie know that I'm goin'," replied Mrs. Whipp crossly. "What sense is there in your takin' a girl to the port to go in swimmin' while you work?"
"Nellie was a very good little helper," declared Miss Mehitable, again taking refuge in her teacup. When she set it down she continued: "If you think, Charlotte, that you can make up your mind to take the bitter with the sweet, the rain and the sun, the fog and the wind, why, come along; but it don't do a bit o' good to argue with Neptune. He'll stick his fork right through you if you do."
Mrs. Whipp stared, but Miss Upton's eyes were twinkling so she suspected this was just one of her jokes.
"I never was one to shirk," she declared curtly.
"Then I can tell Nellie you want to go?"