"If you don't care what you say," he replied brightly.
"But we do, so we'll tell the truth. It's an awful day," declared Louise.
"Don't try to sit here," the boy said. He had risen, of course. "The benches are wet enough to float me as the river did. Come over to the other end. The wind doesn't drive the fog in there."
Louise and Grace followed him, glad of the prospect of a little chat to break the storm's monotony.
"I've been wanting to thank you," began the boy. "My name is Bentley Arnold."
"And this Louise Hart and I am Grace Philow," cut in Grace politely.
The boy did not bow or scrape foolishly, but accepted the introduction as any boy should.
In the West corner of the pavilion they found seats, and quickly exhausting the weather topic, drifted to more interesting subjects.
"Did I hear that you live on the island?" asked Grace directly.
"Not exactly," replied Bentley, "but I am staying there just at present."