The meaningless words that followed led up to all three going over to Baldy Rock to inspect the universe from that critical outlook.
Presently as they exchanged the usual opinions on the glory of the ocean, and the gentility of the land that edged it—even Millie forgot to blush and even Gloria forgot to be anxious.
Here was a boy, a rather grown-up boy, who appeared to have the manners of a young man. He naturally put his hand to the arm of either or both girls if they seemed to need the least assistance in climbing the uncertain rocky way that led to the small cliff.
Now, if that had been Tom or any of the other boys, they might have had a hearty laugh should Millie Graham or Gloria Doane “take a header.”
Naturally the girls thought of such a possibility, yet rather daintily did they “pick their steps” under the guidance of the stranger.
Millie was especially susceptible. She “found her tongue” as Jane would have expressed it, and she chattered so incessantly about the wonders of Barbend that Gloria felt already an alien.
“And when you want to, you can go out to the Light House,” chirped Millie, as they landed on Baldy Rock.
“And you’ll be sure to be interested in the big lights—”
“And we know the Light House Keeper, Peter Bender, don’t we, Glo?”
“And we often go out there in the launch.”
A flash from Gloria’s dark eyes warned Millie. She stopped suddenly, smiled, and dropped down to a spot from which she was in no danger of sliding. Gloria joined her and both laughed slyly while Ben Hardy focussed his marine glasses upon the coveted view.
“Great!” he exclaimed. “This was worth leaving school for.”
“Well, you see,” he replied rather awkwardly, “I’m going in for science and I’m determined to get my field work done while I need it. I could have gone on with the books—”
“How dad would have loved to have met you!” exclaimed Gloria impulsively.
“Because, that’s just his—hobby also. He wants to see a part of the world. He knows all about this” (with an encompassing wave toward land and over sea), “but he wanted to prove his book work, as he expressed it. That’s why he’s gone away.” She could not keep the droning tone out of her voice. Ben Hardy respected it and only nodded his head.