n a bench on the
little covered porch, and watched Sophie's slender fingers pull the
sweet peas.

Sophie straightened up. "I'm worried about her," she said. "She and
Anthony Blake went to see the air-ships, and I had a telephone message
from Anthony that he had had a hurry call, and that Justin would look
after Betty. That was two hours ago, and Betty hadn't returned when I
left to come here----"

Captain Stubbs, appearing with a big loaded tray, gave important
information.

"Did she have on a white dress?"

"Yes."

"Then she's gone flying with Justin Ford."

"What?" Sophie stood up, and all the fragrant blooms fell at her feet.
"Oh, surely he wouldn't take Betty up with him. It would be dreadful."

"Now, don't you worry," said the captain; "he ain't goin' to let a hair
of her head get hurt--he's daffy over her."

"Daffy?" Sophie stared.

"Yep." The captain set his tray on the rustic table. "He and that Betty
child went with me and Miss Matthews for a day's fishin', and at first
we didn't notice anything, but after a while we began to open our
eyes--and, well, we ain't blind, are we, Miss Matthews?"

Miss Matthews, drinking her tea thirstily, took up the captain's story.
"It rained, and the captain and I wrapped up and stayed by the boat. But
those young folks ran off, and he was helping her along, and she was
looking up at him--and--everybody knows what's going to happen when two
people look at each other that way."

"And if they are flying," the captain chuckled, "they're probably as
near heaven as it's possible to be this side of the pearly gates."

But Sophie would not treat the subject lightly. "It's bad enough for a
man to fly," she said, "but he had no right to take that child up with
him. Where did you see them, captain?"

"I was standing on those rocks out there, and I saw him rise up over the
harbor. I could see that he had someone with him, so I went in, and got
my glass, and sure enough, there she was, all in white, with a white
veil wrapped tight about her head."

"Which way did they go?"

"Straight out beyond the harbor, and up toward Gloucester way--but don't
you worry, Mrs. Martens; they'll be back before they know it."

"But I do worry," Sophie declared, "and I shall certainly tell Justin
what I think of his foolhardiness."

"Well, you take your tea," said the captain, soothingly, "and I'll call
up and see if they have come in."

Taking tea with the captain meant the tasting of m