CHAPTER IX
CHURCH AND A SUNDAY MOON
It was a glorious Sabbath morning. The waters rippled and sparkled as the tide came hurrying in early; but there was no bell for dip on Sunday morning and breakfast was put at a later hour. The girls had been asked to come to breakfast prepared to leave on the launches for church.
“Where do we go to church, Frances?” Hilary asked.
“Sometimes to one of the little churches up the river, but often to Bath, for there we can choose churches of different denominations, go to our own or visit others.”
Two boat loads started. Aeolus and Truant chugged their way down stream, through the Burnt Jackets and past Boothbay Camp, where a few boys waved and cheered; past Brushwood Lodge, quiet and lovely in its rocks and greenery; past happily sailing gulls and shores of solid rock and evergreens; past the little hamlet of West Woolwich, on down the river to the now familiar little town of Bath.
Hilary, Lilian and Cathalina looked closely at the island as they passed Boothbay Camp, to see if there were any signs of Campbell.
“I think that the church folks have already left, since there seemed to be so few boys around,” said Cathalina in a low tone to Hilary. “The question is, will he go to your church, hoping to see you, or to his own church, and where will you go?”
Hilary colored a little and replied, “I should love to see Campbell, but I think that I shall go with you girls today, as I should plan to do in any case. Probably he can’t choose, but will have to take some group of boys.”
“That is so,” replied Cathalina, who was deeply concerned in her cousin Campbell’s interest in Hilary ever since he had first met her on her visit to Cathalina. And now that Philip had been impressed with Lilian, Cathalina felt that she was living in an atmosphere of the highest romance. Confidences from all quarters were hers. Lilian had looked as conscious as Hilary while passing the island, for Philip might come at any time.
Campbell Stuart, meanwhile, trusted to no chance meeting. So far his responsibilities and labors in the early days of camp had prevented him from calling at Merrymeeting to see his cousin and her friends. But here he was at the dock as the Aeolus floated in, his blue eyes lit up with pleasure and his lips parted in smiles, as he lifted his hat to Hilary, Cathalina, and the boat load in general. And now he was helping the girls off and walked between Hilary and Cathalina, while Lilian and Betty fell in behind.