A small boy in a blue navy suit was running up the beach. The wind was blowing against him as he ran, and he frequently stumbled; but he didn't mind the stumbles. He was chuckling to himself, and, when he burst into the room, where his mother sat with her sister, his chuckle became a noisy laugh.
"Don't laugh so loud, Lee," said Prudence's mother, holding up her hand. "I think I'm going to have a headache."
But Leander did not stop his laugh in the least. He came up to the hearth between the two women, and stood in front of the fire; for there was a low fire,—"to cheer her up," Mrs. Ffolliott had said.
"I tell you, marmer," he exclaimed, "here's a go!"
Before he could further explain his remark the door opened again and Carolyn entered. She went up to her mother and sat down on a footstool by her, leaning on her lap.
"I wanted to be with you, mamma, this last evening," she said.
Mrs. Ffolliott felt her eyes fill, but she spoke cheerfully.
"Where's Prue?" she asked. She stroked her daughter's hair.
"Oh, she went out half an hour ago," was the reply. "She said she was so nervous she couldn't stay in the house; besides, she had an engagement with Leander. What are you here for, Lee?" She looked in surprise at her brother.
"What you here for, yourself?" was the immediate response. Then the boy resumed his laugh. "Won't there be a lammin' s'prise on the Vireo?" he exclaimed. "I hope he'll think she's a ghost. But I got cheated out of my sail all the same, 'n' the wind's just whizzin' good."