"If it hadn't been for them--I don't dare--think----" and again
her hand flew to her eyes to shut out the horror of that awful moment.
Suddenly all Mrs. Irving's mother instinct rose to the fore, and she
spoke impulsively. "Take the child home," she begged; "what she needs
more than anything else is rest. You can see she is at the breaking
point."
Mr. Benton looked at his daughter, who indeed was trembling like a leaf
in her brother's arms, and saw the truth of the statement. "You are
right," he said slowly. "We can't get Anita home too soon." Then,
turning once more to Mrs. Irving, he added, while his eyes traveled over
the group of girls and boys behind her: "Although we haven't time now to
become better acquainted, we are going to stay here the rest of the
summer, and if you expect to remain our neighbors----"
"Yes, father," broke in Anita, "they live at the bungalow at the other
end of the island, and they have already invited Conway and me to visit
them. When shall we go, Con?"
"As soon as you are able, sister dear," Conway Benton said fondly. "I'll
be glad to go any time.
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