"I spoke of it," said Belle, gently. "We are going there on a winter
cruise, and--"
"Pardon me--but to Sea Horse Island?" and the girl's trembling voice
seemed very eager.
"We are going there--among other places," put in Bess, and her voice
grew rather colder than her sister's, for the manner of the lace
seller was passing strange.
"--Oh, to Sea Horse Island--in ze West Indies--Oh, if I could but go
zere--my father--he is--he is, oh, Senoritas, I crave your pardon,
but---but--"
Her voice trailed off in a whisper, and swaying, she fell at the feet
of Cora, who sprang forward, but too late, to catch the slim,
inanimate burden. The little lace peddler lay in a crumpled up heap
on the floor.
CHAPTER IV
JACK ARRIVES
"Oh, Cora!"
"The poor girl!"
Belle and Bess, with clasped hands, bent over the prostrate form of
the girl, whose plain, black dress showed the dust and travel stains
of the highways about Chelton. From the verandah Mrs. Kimball stepped
in, through the long window.
"Get some water, Cora," she directed in a calm and self-possessed
voice. "Also the aromatic ammonia on my dressing table. It is
merely a faint. Poor girl! She seemed very weak while she was
talking to me. I was just going to ask her to sit down, and let me
have a cup of tea brought to her, when she suddenly turned away from
me and came in where you girls were.
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