He gave the girls a keen glance, which they more modestly returned, and
they privately decided, after a second look, that his eyes were fine
and his smile a pleasant one, if he was slightly snub-nosed and
freckled.
Just behind him came the "Bess" of his question, a rather delicate
young lady in appearance, possibly in her early twenties, the boy being
at least four years younger. She was not pretty, but as her eyes
lighted upon the sisters, she too smiled so pleasantly, they were at
once drawn to her, and returned the wordless greeting with more than
civility. Then Hope broke out, impulsively,
"We are watching the lighthouse. Doesn't it loom up well? Almost as
if we were going to run into it."
"True enough," returned "Bess," as both drew nearer, and the boy added,
to Faith,
"You've got an Angora, haven't you? We left one at home, didn't we,
Bess? He's a splendid fellow, Chimmie Fadden is!"
"Chimmie Fadden? What a funny name!" laughed the twins in chorus.
"It's out of a story," he explained, "a Van Bibber story, and really
means Jimmy, you know, but that's the way the boy pronounced it
himself. He acts timid," this in reference to Hafiz, who burrowed
under Faith's arm, resenting his advances.
"Yes, he doesn't like it on board, at all. It's all too strange, yet.
Father gave him to me just before we started, and he hasn't become used
to anything--not even me."
"And I've a parrot," put in Hope. "_He_ takes it out in scolding.
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