Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/352

332 old mansion after another they passed, all of them  facing the water. “The old sea-captains liked to live near the water. Their wharves were usually opposite their houses, and from the upper windows they could  look well down the harbor, and see their vessels coming in.”

“It’s a pity to see these old houses used for tenements or institutions.”

“Yes, it does seem a pity. But there! We must hurry. Brenda seems impatient.”

Brenda and Amy were now standing in the middle of the sidewalk, some distance ahead, and Brenda was waving her hand impatiently.

“There,” she cried, as they drew near, “I believe we ’ve found the place. I asked a woman if there were any Portuguese here, and she pointed to this old house. She said there was a woman named Silva; but she did n’t know about any man.”

“You don’t really intend to go in? ”

“Why, of course, Julia, with you and Miss South I shall feel perfectly safe; and Amy is n’t afraid of anything.”

Julia turned toward Miss South. “Why, there can’t be any harm, even though no special good may come from  the visit.”

A blue-eyed woman answered the knock at the door. She certainly was not a Portuguese in appearance, although she admitted that she was Mrs. Silva.

“Is Mr. Silva in?” asked Brenda, boldly.