“Sit up, girls, here comes another visitor,” she exclaimed. “What now, I wonder?”
The young man hesitated as he reached the screen door.
“Good-evening,” said Arden pleasantly.
“Good-evening,” responded the caller. “I hope I have not disturbed you, but I wonder if you could tell me how to reach a houseboat? I understand it is somewhere near here.”
“Oh, you mean Merry Jane,” Sim piped up brightly. “Lots of people ask us that. That is, you’re the second one who has inquired,” she replied, feeling a little foolish at being so friendly.
He smiled amicably and said he hoped they had not been bothered in that way.
“We didn’t mind,” Terry chimed in. “We don’t have much to do here, anyway.” The girls really were being silly.
“It’s down the bay, but you can’t reach it by car. The road is too soft this time of year,” Arden said helpfully, the first one really to answer his question.
“Is one obliged to walk, then?” the man asked. His wording was foreign and a slight accent made it seem more so.
“No; walking would be dangerous, too,” Arden explained. “The only way is by boat.” She waited to see what effect this announcement would have, but Sim spoiled it.