Nor was he more communicative when he chanced to meet Ralph Endicott getting out of his roadster in front of the Clinkerport Inn.
"Wal, young feller!" exclaimed the lightkeeper, "what brings you over here from Amperly? Ain't got your lady friend with ye, eh?"
"If you mean Lorna, I have not. She has gone to New York on a visit, I understand. But Uncle Henry made me come over here and arrange for one of Tadman's bungalows. He won't hear to our going anywhere else for the summer."
"Which don't please you none, I can see," commented Tobias. "Which one of them bungalows are you going to have?"
"I had to take the one right next to the Nicholet house," said the disgruntled young man. "That was the only one left—it is so late in the renting season. I was hoping to get Uncle Henry to agree to a change for one summer, at least. But nothing doing!"
"I see," observed Tobias, grinning privately.
"Uncle Henry is all wrapped up in a new invention. He wants to be where it is quiet. The goodness knows it's quiet enough at Clay Head."
"I cal'late. Come over to the light, Ralphie, and have a mess of Heppy's fishballs."
"Well, I might drive you home just as well as not," the young fellow agreed, smiling.
"You're a re'l bright boy, Ralphie, even if you can't appreciate Lorny Nicholet."