“Of course I want to come into your castle,” laughed Mr. Latham. “I feel so certain I have run across a party of fairies that I must peep into your dwelling to see if you are real people.”
“You are not ahead of us, Mr. Latham,” laughed Barbara, “Mollie and I thought you were angels calling down to us from the sky.”
“I hope, Miss Stuart,” begged their visitor, as he was making his adieus, “that you will soon come down from your high retreat and bring these young ladies to see my place in Lenox. Reginald and I promise not to talk airships incessantly. But, if you refuse to descend the hill very soon, my nephew and I shall climb up to see you. Next time I promise to appear in a more conventional fashion.”
That night, when the girls were undressing, Mollie announced unexpectedly: “I don’t like that Reginald Latham.”
“Why not, Mollie?” asked Bab. “He is a very interesting fellow. His mother is a German and he has been educated in Germany. His father, who was Mr. Latham’s younger brother, is dead. I think Reginald is his uncle’s heir. He told me he and his uncle mean to devote all their time to inventing airships. He studied about them in Germany, even before he came to live with his uncle three years ago.”
“Mercy!” Mollie ejaculated. “Then he is even more queer than I thought him. What a useless life for a man of his age. I don’t like him even if he is ever so clever, and though his uncle is a dear. Girls, if I tell you something will you promise me not to laugh? Cross your heart and body. I won’t tell you unless you do.”
“Oh, then we have no choice, Mollie,” laughed Grace.
“You may laugh a little,” relented Mollie, who was giggling softly to herself. “Do you know what I suddenly thought, when Bab and I saw that great white object come sailing over our heads this afternoon? Like a flash it popped into my mind. Here comes ‘The Great White Also!’”
Barbara shrieked with laughter in spite of her promise. “Oh, you funny Mollie!” she exclaimed.
“What is the child talking about?” inquired the puzzled Ruth. “The Great White Also! What utter nonsense!”