Aunt Euphemia jumped up with an exclamation of relief. "Louise!" she uttered as she saw the girl, amusement in her eyes, standing in the doorway.
CHAPTER XIII
WASHY GALLUP'S CURIOSITY
"I do not see how you can endure it, Louise! He is impossible—quite impossible! I never knew your tastes were low!"
Critical to the tips of her trembling fingers, Aunt Euphemia sat stiffly upright in Louise's bedroom rocking chair and uttered this harsh reflection upon her niece's good taste. Louise never remembered having seen her aunt so angry before. But she was provoked herself, and her determination to go her own way and spend her summer as she chose stiffened under the lash of the lady's criticism.
"What will our friends think of you?" demanded Mrs. Conroth. "I am horrified to have them know you ever remained overnight in such a place. There are the Perritons. They were on the train with me coming down from Boston. They are opening their house here at what they call The Beaches—one of the most exclusive colonies on the coast, I understand. They insisted upon my coming there at once, and I have promised to bring you with me."
"You have promised more than you can perform. Aunt Euphemia," Louise replied shortly. "I will remain here."
"Louise!"
"I will remain here with Cap'n Amazon. And with Uncle Abram when he returns. They are both dear old men——"
"That awful looking pirate!" gasped Mrs. Conroth.