Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/118

104 “It really is a very picturesque old town, isn’t it?” said Brenda, as Julia stood enjoying the view of the old  wharves, and the houses sloping upward, rising in irregular rows behind one another.

“What is that Point out there? There seems to be an old fort, or something like it,” said Julia, without directly  answering her cousin’s remark.

“Oh, there is a fort, although I ’ve never been there,” answered Brenda.

“All the better. Then we can go together. You may grow as fond as I of exploring.”

“Perhaps—”

Just then one of the sailors walked the length of the deck, striking a Chinese gong.

“Delightful sound! Come, Julia, that’s cousin Edward’s way of having us called to luncheon.”

“Come, girls; luncheon! luncheon!” cried Mr. Elston. And, following their elders, the girl cousins, a minute later, found themselves below decks, at the cosey dining-table.

“The cabin is just a little warm,” said Mr. Elston; “but all our edibles are iced, and I know that you ’ll  excuse me if I do not serve you regular sailors’ fare to-day. I was almost sure that you would n’t care for hard tack and bacon. Now, show me that I was not wrong.”

Thereupon, his guests did show him that they did appreciate iced bouillon and salad and sliced tomatoes and boned chicken, and last, but not least, the sherbet in  small glass cups.