The black-browed man addressed himself to the clerk of the hotel with an assurance that made that functionary give him his best attention. He asked for the man so well known in the financial world, and mentioned his own name. "He expects me. Shall I go right up?" he asked. "I am sorry, sir. The gentleman and his lady have just gone to drive--not ten minutes ago. They'll remain all day. I am instructed to tell you that they will lunch at the South Light and that you are to come across the island and meet him there. First they drive to the West Side, I understand. You can hire a rig, sir." "I know the island," said the dark man, briefly. "I'll walk." The hotel carriage had appeared according to promise at the lower end of the Ball lane on this forenoon. Carolyn and Edna, with Prince barking madly before them, raced down from the cottage in the dooryard of which Mrs. Cameron, the baby's mother, and Molly Ball stood to watch the departure of the picnic party. "I presume it is perfectly safe to let the children go with those people," Carolyn's mother said. "They seem very nice--and somehow I pity that woman. She looks so unhappy and discontented, except when she is talking to Carolyn or playing with your baby," she added, smiling at the pale lady. "Land sake! you needn't fret 'bout them," declared the confident Molly I. "If they've taken a shine to the baby, Miz Bassett, mebbe they'll do something harnsome for him. You read 'bout rich folks doing such things." "But," murmured the baby's mother, hugging him more closely at the thought, "we do not want people to patronize us, Laird and I. Even for the baby's sake. We will not always be poor. I am sure if Laird once gets into some business for which he is really fitted our hard times will be over. We do not wish to be objects of charity." "Wal, I dunno," said the practical island girl. "Wouldn't call it charity. What you get is so much gained, 'cording to my notion. I'm as independent as the next one; but these folks that have got too much money ought to be let to spend it. And if they wanted to spend it on me or mine, I sh'd let 'em!" "Here come the Block Island Indians!" exclaimed the man in the carriage. "Think you can stand such a wild crew for all day, Mother?" "Let them climb right in here by me," said his wife, moving over on the rear seat of the carriage to make room for the little girls, and smiling more warmly upon them than Carolyn remembered having seen her smile before. "I only wish Baby Laird were coming too." "Oh, I _know_ he'd be glad to come," said Carolyn, getting into the carriage after Edna. "But, you see, he wouldn't have his bottle. And it's awfully important that he should have his bottle on time, you know." "It's awfully important that we _all_ have our meals on time," said their host, laughing. "That is why I had the hotel people pack that hamper for us that is strapped on behind."