"Cap'n Daddy," she faltered, "I'm going to tell you something else."
"Yer considerable talky, it seems t' me." Billy eyed the girl.
"Cap'n Billy, have you ever wondered why I talk better than most of the others at the Station?"
"I don't know as I would allow that ye do," Billy replied; "ye talk differenter, somewhat, but I don't know as it's better."
"Well, it is. And it isn't all the teachers' doings either, Daddy, for Maud Grace and the rest never changed much; but for years, Daddy, I've been crawling in the cellar window of Bluff Head, when no one on earth knew, and I've read five shelves of books! I've thought like those books, and talked like them, until I seem to be like them; and, Daddy, the day Mr. Devant came home, he found me in his library-room, reading his books!"
"Gawd!" ejaculated Billy, and stood stock still. "Did he fling ye out, neck and crop?" he gasped at last.
"Daddy! he's a nice old gentleman!"
"Old? He ain't dodderin' yet. An' he use t' have a bit of pepper in his nater. What did he do?"
"Do? Why, he gave me the key to his front door. He reads with me and tells me what to read. We're great friends!"
"Yer 'tarnal specimint!" Billy was shaking. "I see ye've caught the mainland fever, eh, gal? Ye don't want t' bide on the dunes 'long o' old Billy, now, eh?"