THEY felt quite like grown-ups out there in the moonlight, on the carpeted piazzas, with the music from the ballroom wafting out through the many open windows.
Here and there in sheltered nooks, knots of young folks buzzed their confidences, while the scouts chose two long, low divans, directly off the exchange, where they might at once enjoy the music of the waves and the rhythm of the orchestra.
It all seemed too pleasant to mar with ordinary conversation, so holding hands as girls will, the companions sank down to enjoy the wonderful summer night.
They were not more than settled when two young men sauntered out of the smoking room and took the seat just back of their divan. The girls nudged each other, and squeezed hands, but did not emit the usual warning cough.
"Well, I am glad to hear from Dick," spoke one of the men; "I tell you, he did great work in our little old war."
"You-bet-y'u," replied the second voice, slurring his words together as young men do, and giving them that jolly twang peculiar to the college boy.
"Yes, sir, Dick Gordon is some boy, and I'll be mighty glad to see him."
Grace almost pinched Cleo's arm to the yelling point. "That's my Jackie--the one who owns my marine room," she said in a low voice.
"Keep your window locked," cautioned Cleo.
"And he's still on the blue?" went on the masculine voice.
"Still is--you-bet-cha," replied his companion. "Regular Willie off the yacht, only he's bound to be Richard on the yacht. Seems some millionaire family he knew--there may be a girl in it--prevailed on him to take a yacht out this summer, so he's sailing her--the yacht I mean; I'm only guessing at the girl."
Isabel coughed audibly. It was just like her to do so and she either had to cough or laugh, and she hastily decided on expressing herself in the least conspicuous outburst.
For a few minutes the young men ceased speaking, and in the interval the girls undertook to carry on something like a conversation; at least they were endeavoring to make their presence known to the other occupants of that corner of the porch.
Thus establishing a general hum of voices, remarks from the young men only floated in as the girls might pause, or giggle, or hesitate about staying longer from the dance floor.