t hurt you any. And there was that
young thing looking so kind of sorry. You might have said a pleasant
word to her, anyhow, even if you were all riled up with the other."

On sped the carriage, the lovely Upper Bay always in sight, until on the
curve of the long Coddington's Point it turned, and retraced its course
so as to strike Washington Street at the lower end. It was a delicious
afternoon. The tide was flowing freshly in, and the brisk northwest
breeze which met it sent little white-caps dancing all over the surface.
Crafts of all kinds were traversing the harbor: yachts and cat-boats
were out in numbers; schooners and barges sped up the bay, their sails
shining against the green Island shores; row-boats and steam-tugs were
crossing and recrossing between the city and the Fort and Torpedo
Station. A sharp double whistle announced the "Eolus" just started on
her up trip, with a long wake of creamy foam behind her. Fleets of white
clouds were drifting across the sky, which was bluer than the sea, like
ships of heaven, simulating and repeating the movements of those of
earth below. Every wharf and dock was full of people, fishing, idling,
or preparing to go out in boats. It was one of the moments when all
mankind seems to be a-pleasuring, and to have laid aside all memory of
the labors and the pains of this work-a-day world.

Mrs. Joy probably felt that she owed Candace some compensation for the
unpleasant quarter of an hour which she had led her into at Miss
Colishaw's; for she did her best to be entertaining, and to tell
everything that she herself knew about Washington Street and its
notabilities. She pointed out the two pretty old houses which have been
so cleverly modernized into comfort without any sacrifice of their
quaint exteriors; and the other and still finer one, once belonging to
the Hunter family, whose renovations have gone so far toward spoiling
it.

"It used to have a nice old staircase with a broad landing, and windows
over the water, and beautiful mahogany balusters," explained Mrs. Joy.
"But they've spoiled all that. They have painted over the elegant
satinwood and old cherry wainscotings, and taken out the secret
staircase; and now it's no better than any other square house with that
kind of roof."

"Was there a secret staircase?" cried Candace. "Oh, what a pity they
took it out! I always thought I should like to see one so much."

"I don't believe this would have interested you particularl