"Why, Mary," said the one of them, quite cheerfully (as we afterwards heard), "it is quite a long time since you and I had a chat together."
"Yes, it is."
"One gets so often interfered with on board, you know. Aren't you going to begin now and make a sketch?"
She had brought with her her sketching materials; but they were lying unopened on a rock hard by.
"No, I think not," she said, listlessly.
"What is the matter with you?" said her kind friend, pretending to laugh at her. "I believe you are fretting over the loss of the money, after all."
"Oh, no: I hope you do not think I am fretting!" said she, anxiously. "No one has said that? I am really quite content—I am very—happy."
She managed to say the word.
"I am very glad to hear it," said her friend; "but I have a great mind to scold you all the same."
The girl looked up. Her friend went over to her, and sate down beside her, and took her hand in hers.