Part 12 (1/2)

And celebrate they did until it got so late that Mrs. Jordon had gently but firmly to put them out, appointing Teddy to escort the girls home.

”I don't want your mothers to think I've kidnapped you,” she called after them as she and Laura, the latter pouting a little, stood in the doorway to wave good-bye to them.

”Just the same, I think you might have let them stay a little longer,”

protested Laura as they turned to go inside. ”It's only ten o'clock, and we had so much to talk about.”

”I know,” said Mrs. Jordon, putting an arm lightly about her young daughter's shoulders. ”I was the same way at your age, dear. Mother had to send away my friends and put me to bed regularly every week or so. Now it's my turn, that's all.”

Meanwhile Teddy and Billie had dropped Vi at her house and had turned down the broad, elm-shaded street on which stood the Bradley home.

For some reason or other they did not talk very much. They did not seem to find anything to say. Billie had never been alone like this with Teddy before, and she was wondering why it made her tongue-tied.

”I say, Billie,” began Teddy, clearing his throat and looking down at her sideways--for all the world, as Billie thought, as if she were a mouse trap and might go off any minute--”is it really settled that you are going to start day after to-morrow?”

”Yes. And isn't it wonderful?” cried Billie, finding her voice as the blissful prospect opened up before her again. ”I've never stayed at the seash.o.r.e more than a day or two, Teddy, in my life, and now just think of spending the whole summer there. I can't believe yet that it isn't a dream.”

”You want to be careful,” said Teddy, staring straight before him, ”if you go in bathing at all. There are awfully strong currents around there, you know.”

”Oh, of course I know all about that,” returned Billie, with the air of one who could not possibly be taught anything. ”Connie says her Uncle Tom knows of a darling little inlet where the water's so calm it's almost like a swimming pool. Of course we'll do most of our swimming there. Oh, Teddy, you ought to see my new bathing suit!” She was rattling on rapturously when Teddy interrupted with a queer sort of question.

”Who is this Uncle Tom?” he asked, still staring straight ahead.

”Why, he's Connie's uncle, of course! The keeper of the light on Lighthouse Island,” answered Billie, as surprised as if he had asked her who Abraham Lincoln was. ”Connie says he's a darling----”

”Is he married?”

”Why no. That is, I don't think so,” answered Billie, knitting her brows in an effort to think whether Connie had ever said anything on this point. She had never even thought to ask if ”Uncle Tom” was married.

”Why, no, of course he can't be,” she answered herself and Teddy at the same time. ”If he was married he wouldn't be living in that old lighthouse all alone. And Connie said he did live there all alone. I remember that.”

She nodded her head with satisfaction, but, strangely enough, Teddy did not seem to be satisfied at all. He just stalked along beside her in a sort of gloomy silence while she glanced up at him now and then with a mischievous hint of a laugh dancing about her pretty mouth.

”Teddy, where are you going?” she asked a minute later, as they reached the sidewalk that led to her house and instead of stopping Teddy stalked straight on. ”I don't live down at the corner you know.”

Teddy turned about with a sort of sheepish grin and rejoined her.

”I was just thinking,” he said as they turned up the walk together.

”No wonder you went past,” said Billie mischievously. Then as they paused at the foot of the steps she looked up at him with an imp of laughter showing all the dimples about her mouth. ”What were you thinking so hard about, Teddy?” she dared him.

”I was thinking,” said Teddy, clearing his throat and looking anywhere but at Billie, ”that I wouldn't mind going down to Lighthouse Island myself!”

Then he fled, leaving Billie to get into the house as best she could. But Billie did not mind. She was chuckling to herself and thinking how funny and foolish and--yes--awfully nice Teddy could be--sometimes.

CHAPTER XII

PREPARING FOR THE TRIP

Chet and Billie were at the train to meet Connie when she arrived, for it had been decided almost without argument that Connie would spend her one night in North Bend with the Bradleys.