The neighborhood distrust relieved the fears of the visitors and they began to make themselves comfortable.
“Oh, ‘V.,’ this would be a grand place to eat our lunch,” suggested Helen and to the boy she said, “We have something to eat in our boat. May we bring it here and will you have lunch with us?”
“That would be fine,” he agreed. “You get your lunch and I will get some milk for us to drink from my mother.”
“Don’t disturb her,” protested Virginia. “We have plenty. And we have a thermos bottle of water, too.”
“My mother won’t care a bit. She loves to have me eat and she wants me to drink lots of milk so that I will grow big and strong to take care of her. I haven’t any father, you see.” Without further words the lad disappeared.
Taking care to avoid the hornets, the girls brought their lunch from the boat and were soon joined by the boy bringing a pitcher of milk and some tin cups.
“Mother said that she was glad for us to have the milk and that after lunch I am to bring you up to see her. Please come,” he begged. “I want my mother to know both of you so that after you are gone I can talk to her about you and she will understand. I don’t often have visitors at my house.” In a burst of confidence, “I never had any before. Please do come.”
The pleading face of the boy was very attractive to Virginia as she looked into it. Its wistfulness persuaded her. “We will go and see your mother,” she promised.
A happy, satisfied smile came into his face. There was something familiar about that to Virginia. Her eyes became dreamy.
“I’m going to kiss you,” Helen suddenly announced.