“Why, because everything was spoilt,” said Missy, in apparent wonder at the other's wonderment.
“By that one wave?”
“Why, of course.”
“But how did it happen?”
“Didn't I tell you? We'd left the window open, and in comes a green sea and half fills the cabin. The captain, he was ever so wild, and, oh my! didn't he give it us! Of course, all our things were spoilt—me and the other girls. We finished the voyage in borrowed everything, and in borrowed everything I came here the other day. Did you think them things were mine? Not much, my dear. Not much! But I was forced to have things of my own before I could come out here and stay.”
Arabella, sitting on the bed, studied the tall figure with arms akimbo that struck sharp through the dusk against the square-paned window. She was wondering whether the Olivers were such well-to-do people after all. Her own English was not perfect, but her ear was better than her tongue, and the young ladies in the Family Cherub spoke not at all as Missy spoke. Arabella's next question seemed irrelevant.
“Did you see much society at home, Missy?”
“You bet I did!” was the answer, and the fuzzy head was nodding against the window.
“Real high society, like you read about in tales, Missy?”
“Rather!”