He was still laughing at his own joke when through the slats of the closed blinds shading the Pepper house parlor a shrill voice was heard speaking.
“Go ahead, 'Bishy dear,” called Lavinia. “Go ahead and go. A change of air'll do you good.”
Kyan whirled and clutched at the gate.
“HEY?” he shouted in amazement.
“Are you deef? Or is Mr. Ellis laughin' so hard that you can't hear? What is it that's so funny, Mr. Ellis?”
The light-keeper shut off his laughter by a sudden and rather frightened gulp.
“Oh, nothin', nothin', Miss Pepper. Nice day, ain't it?”
“I guess so. I ain't had time to look at it yet. I have to work. I can't let my wife do it for me, like some folks, and take 'days off.' What was it you was laughin' at, Mr. Ellis?”
“Nothin', nothin' at all.”
“Hum! They used to tell me there was only one kind of person who laughed at nothin'. Well, 'Bish Pepper, what are you standin' there for? If you're goin', come right into the house and change your clothes this minute.”