Page:Silver Shoal Light.djvu/38

20 "All this is too good to be true," she said. "How kind you are!"

"Staying at that hotel would be bad enough," said Mrs. Pemberley, "but I suppose not being able to stay there might be even worse! I think there's soap in that big clam-shell," she added as she withdrew.

Out in the darkness a homing tug tooted a deep-voiced signal to her barges. Joan blew out the candle and stood at the window looking over the dim water. The lights of the tow slipped quietly through the dusk and veered toward the bay. As the tug rounded the point her port and starboard lights glowed out suddenly, like jewels. Joan could hear the faint beat of a screw above the sound of lapping water under the window. She gazed out a moment longer at the darkening sky; then, turning, she felt for the knotted cord and went downstairs.

As she entered the living-room a tall, tawny-haired, brown-faced person rose from the settle.

"That's my husband," said Mrs. Pemberley with a comprehensive wave of her hand, as she set a blue bake-dish upon the table. "And