Have you noticed the flying-fish, this
morning? How delightful it must be to plunge into that cool water
to-day! I wonder if they fly out into the heat just for the fun of
cooling off afterwards?"
"Quite a suggestion, Mrs. Campbell!" laughed the traveler. "I believe
I'll try it," and, bowing lightly, with a flash of the eyes that met
her own in quick defiance, he turned away.
As he passed around the bulkhead screening Lady Moreham, she rose and
said in a low voice,
"I want to thank you! Many a life has been ruined by base
insinuations. A vain woman's tongue is a merciless weapon. I like the
little sisters, and believe them pure-hearted children. It was wicked!"
He bowed.
"I agree with you, my lady. But you see they are monopolizing the
attention to-day, which is a social crime!" and, with a sarcastic
smile, he passed on.
Meanwhile, undreaming of this "capful of wind" that might become a
tornado, our girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves in a lively, wholly
unsentimental way, pleased with the company and their own happy youth;
and not suspecting that in this same soft, silky atmosphere which
breeds both the exquisite Paradise-bird and the deadly cobra, might be
found, not only friendliness, but also that "envy, malice, and
uncharitableness" which the honest-hearted are least able to guard
against, in their utter lack of comprehension.
CHAPTER IX.
A GAME OF GROMETS.
"Who wants to pitch gromets?" cried Dwight.
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