"We shall miss many things when we reach St. Croix," said Drew, looking at them and smiling.
Hetty glanced at him, then she leaned forward and put her hand on the Danish girl's arm.
"We shall miss you," she said softly.
"Ah, no!" Brother and sister spoke together. He turned and bowed to his sister smilingly.
"Ah, no!" she repeated; "yo' s'all coam at our house alwis; da do' s'all stahnd wide faw yo' fawefer." Her eyes included them all in the invitation.
"Ah wass going tow spik doze sem lak ma sisteh," said the brother, with a magnificent bow.
"I shall bring the book," said Drew, touching it. "It may go better there."
"Shuah-lee!" laughed the Danish girl. "And yo' s'all rid eet in doze gahden, among doze floweh' mos' beautiful, wiz doze o'ange-tree' and t'ibet-tree' meking doze cool shadow, and doze sea-watah fah be-low shining in da sun. And noise—yo' s'all heah on-lee doze sea-watah mu'mu'ing soft-lee, and doze fountains whispehing, and possibly a lil' song ofehhead, and maybe some dahkies pahssing be-hin' doze high wall, calling tow sell yo' some t'ings ve'y nize—and nut'in' mo'."
"Hot arepa! hot arepa dem! Ya da hot arepa!" In a high, slurring singsong Lieutenant Stromberg gave the cry of the negro women street-venders.
"Yas; das iss eet," said his sister. "Yo' t'ink das iss nize?"