in front
of the bungalows, whiling away a glorious, crisp afternoon in striving to
induce the reluctant fish to bite. For some reason or other, they seemed
remarkably shy that day. Leslie's nibble had been the first suggestion of
possible luck. Just as she was cautiously beginning to reel in her line a
pair of hands was clasped over her eyes, and a gay voice laughed "Guess
who!"

"Eileen!" cried Leslie, joyfully, forgetting all about her nibble. "Oh,
but it's good to see you! We've missed you so since you left. Where _did_
you come from?"

"Grandfather and I motored down to-day," replied Eileen, as they all
crowded round her, "to stay over night at Aunt Sally's in the village.
He's going to drive out here a little later, with Geoffrey at the wheel,
because he wants to see you people. You know, we sail for England on
Saturday, and he says he doesn't intend to leave before he has a chance
to greet the friends who did so much for him! You've no idea how much
better he is! He began to pick up the moment I told him the news that
night; and in the two weeks since, he's been like another person. But he
hates it in New York and it doesn't agree with him, and he just wanted to
come down here once more before we left."

"But how did _you_ get here, if he's coming later in the car?" demanded
Phyllis.

"Oh, I _walked_, of course! It was a glorious day for it. Aunt Sally
wondered so, to see me taking the air in anything but that car! What a
dear she is! And how scandalously I had to treat her when I stayed there
before. But the dear lady never suspected that I was in an agony of worry
and suspense all the time, and didn't dare to be nice to her for fear I'd
just be tempted to give way and tell the whole secret. I used to long to
throw myself in her lap and boo-hoo on her shoulder! I've made it all up
with her since, though! There's Grandfather now! Come up to the veranda,
all of you, because he's not strong enough yet to walk on the sand."

They hurried up to the house and got there in time for Eileen to make the
introductions. They were all deeply attracted to the tall, stooping,
gray-haired, pleasant-mannered gentleman who greeted them so
cordially--as if they were old and valued friends instead of such recent
acquaintances.

"I'm going to ask you to let me sit awhile on your front veranda," he
said. "I want to get a last impression of this lovely spot to carry away
with me to England. Also, I would like to have a chat wit