Lucile flushed scarlet, but walked on with her head in the air, thankful she had not expressed the thought that had rushed to her lips.
“Cranky old curmudgeon!” murmured Evelyn, vindictively. “It’s lucky there aren’t so many of them in the world.”
To their surprise, Lucile began to laugh with great enjoyment. “Girls,” she said, “did you hear her say ‘woof’ when we clashed?”
Two hours later they sighted the harbor, and on board pandemonium broke loose. Questions and answers were fired back and forth like bullets from a Gatling gun, and everywhere field glasses were glued to eager eyes.
“So that’s England?” said Lucile. “Oh, Jessie, pinch me!” 104
“Won’t. Love you too much,” said Jessie, gazing intently toward the harbor, which became more and more distinct with every passing moment.
“Don’t let any such soft scruples stand in your way,” said Phil, administering the desired pinch with such good effect that Lucile jumped almost a foot and lowered her glasses to gaze reproachfully at him.
“Phil, that will be black and blue for a month,” she said, with conviction. “You needn’t have done it so hard.”
“You didn’t say not to,” said Phil, with the air of injured innocence that sat so comically upon him. “Here comes old Charlie,” he added, a minute later. “Wonder if he’s found anything since last night.”
“Who in the world is old Charlie?” inquired Jessie, mystified.