"But I haven't packed my bag—"
"Here it is!"
Huntington removed Billy's one remaining hope, and the boy saw that he was fairly beaten.
The broad grin returned to his face as he took his bag. "That's mighty good of you, Mr. Cosden," he said, with such apparent sincerity that it disarmed his uncle's wrath. "There aren't many men who would help a fellow out like that. I won't forget it!"
He ran down the stone steps and took his place in the stern of the motor-boat. "Good-bye, everybody! Say, Uncle Monty, explain to Merry why I didn't have time to say 'good-bye' to her, and don't forget that this joy-ride is on Mr. Cosden. Good-bye!"
They watched the little boat speed after the tender, which by this time had reached the narrows; then they turned back to the piazza.
"We've succeeded in making ourselves fairly conspicuous," Cosden remarked. "A good deal of fuss over one small boy, eh, Monty?"
"Thank you so much!" Edith cried enthusiastically as they joined her. "I haven't seen so much excitement since I arrived,—and I love to watch two live men in action."
"It's frightful, being stared at, isn't it?" Cosden protested.
"Don't believe a word he says, Miss Stevens," Huntington retaliated. "He really loves to be stared at; it's the disappointment on the people's faces after looking at him that causes the worry.—Now, Connie, you can put your foot on the ground without stepping on Billy. How are you planning to take advantage of your opportunity?"