She gazed down lovingly on the water swirling and, foaming among
the stones.

"Stevenson ought to know," said Mr. Randolph with a pleased smile.
"So he is one of your favorites as well as mine!"

"Yes, I like him very." Her little sunny face beamed with
pleasure. "His book is more educating as many things said by a
teacher."

"He is a good teacher."

"I wish he had not put in tobacco," scowled Mrs. Adlerfeld. "There
are a many things better as tobacco."

"You have not tried it," he returned. "Stevenson knew because he
had tried it."

The little woman shook her head decidedly. "I have been suffered a
many times by tobacco." Then a smile broke mischievously. "You
may smoke after dinner, Mr. Randolph."

The man laughed. "I was not pleading for myself," he protested.
"This is sufficiently soothing--" His hand made a comprehensive
sweep. "Tobacco would be superfluous."

Miss Sterling had risen and gone over to the lunch-box, where she
was trying to open a second thermos bottle.

"Let me do that for you!" He sprang to help her.