“This is our great friend, Miss Gilroy,” said Eileen in an affectionate tone.
Belle adjusted her spectacles, and looked full at Leslie out of her short-sighted eyes.
“How do you do?” she said abruptly. She then turned and spoke to Marjorie.
“Come on in front, please; I have something I specially wish to say to you on the subject of a life of absolute devotion. Those great truths which ought to agitate the souls of each man and woman worthy of the name have been specially borne in upon me during the last few hours. I have just been reading a passage which I should be glad to repeat to you.”
Marjorie went on a little unwillingly. Eileen stayed behind. Lettie looked at Leslie, and her eyes filled with laughter.
“There’s a slap in the face,” she said; “and to you, too, Miss Gilroy. Did I not tell you she was an oddity.”
“Now, Lettie,” said Eileen, in an imploring voice, “don’t laugh at poor Belle; don’t prejudice Miss Gilroy
against her. If everybody else was quite as earnest and sincere, what a different world it would be!”
“What an appalling world it would be!” exclaimed Lettie; “it would not be endurable.”
They reached the boats. Eileen and Marjorie, who both rowed well, took the oars. Lettie sat in the stern and held the rudder ropes. Leslie and Belle thus found themselves facing each other. Lettie instantly guided their little craft into midstream.