He glanced out and saw his brother calmly playing in the sand a short distance from the hut.
“Don’t go any farther away, Renny,” he called softly, hoping not to disturb Desiré.
“No,” replied the child, vigorously slapping the sand into shape.
“What’s the matter?” called Desiré, who had wakened instantly at the sound of his voice.
“Nothing at all. Renny got up ahead of us and went out to play in the sand. He’s quite all right.”
“But what time is it?”
“You’d never guess. It’s eight o’clock.”
“Why, Jack, how dreadful!”
“Not at all; it’s quite all right. There’s nothing to hurry us here. Take your time. I’ll set the coffee on.”
“We’re certainly fashionable folk this morning,” laughed Desiré when, half an hour later, the three sat down to breakfast. “Renny, your feet are all wet,” as the child’s foot touched her under the table. “Let me see.”