Anna-Rose cast rapidly about in her mind for the proper form of reply to Hello.
Anna-Felicitas, instinctively responsive to example murmured "Hello" back again.
Anna-Rose, feeling sure that nobody ought to say just Hello to people they had never seen before, and that Aunt Alice would think they had brought it on themselves by being conspicuous, decided that perhaps "Good-evening" would regulate the situation, and said it.
"You ought to be at dinner," said the man, taking no notice of this.
"That's what we think," agreed Anna-Felicitas earnestly.
"Can you please tell us how to get there?" asked Anna-Rose, still distant, but polite, for she too very much wanted to know.
"But don't tell us to ask the Captain," said Anna-Felicitas, even more earnestly.
"No," said Anna-Rose, "because we won't."
The man laughed. "Come right along with me," he said, striding on; and they followed him as obediently as though such persons as possible böse Buben didn't exist.
"First voyage I guess," said the man over his shoulder.