"Now, isn't that pretty?" asked Belle of Ed, as Cora and Jack finished the popular piece.
"Very catchy," replied the young man.
"But Cora has given it a twist of her own," said Jack; "the end goes this way," and he correctly played a few bars, "while Cora likes it thusly," and he played a strain or two more in different style.
Was it the moonlight on the baby waves? was it the murmur of that gliding boat? or was it something indefinable that so awakened the sentiments of the party of gay motorists?
For some moments no one spoke; then Jack broke the spell with a lively fandango, played in solo.
"This seems too good to last," prophesied Belle, with a sigh, "Do you think it was all right to leave the cottage alone?"
"Now, Tinkle," and Walter moved as if to take her hand, "haven't we assured you that the cottage expressly desired to be left alone to-night, and that we fellows wanted your company?"
It was a pretty speech for Walter, and was not lost on the sensitive
Belle.
"How about sand bars, Ed?" asked Jack. "Might we run onto one?"
"We might, but I guess I could feel one coming. The tide is getting away. We had better veer toward the shore."