The girl nodded her head gaily.
“No one can ever resist that funny red-headed boy,” she exclaimed to the others. “I don’t know quite what it is about him. He is really one of the best natured creatures alive, and he has had a great deal to make him unhappy, too, but he is always in a good humor.”
“What has happened to him?” asked Nancy, who had a childish curiosity and was still young enough to ask questions.
“His mother and his brother and sister have all died of consumption. Timothy would be delicate, too, but he is determined not to be, and when he finishes college he is going to be an engineer and live out of doors.”
“We are engineers,” put in Billie, “Papa and I and it’s the nicest work in the world.”
Miss Martin laughed. She had taken a tremendous fancy to these four nice young girls who seemed so unaffected and natural. But Timothy returned before she could reply.
“The military lady in the flap-brimmed hat,” he announced, “is registered as Mrs. Paxton-Steele. The meek young person at her side is Miss Georgiana Paxton, and there appear to be also in the family Edward Paxton and Clarence Paxton, all of England.”
“Steele is a good name for such a stern old personage,” said Genevieve.
“Well, ‘her is naught to we, nor we to she,’” added Timothy, “so let’s go in bathing and forget all about her.”
“Are you sure you feel strong enough, Timothy?” asked his friend, looking at him critically.