"She seems
to be at it the whole while. I don't want she should
injure her health, and sometimes I feel like snatchin'
the books away from her. I don't know as it's good
for a girl to read so much, anyway, especially novels.
I don't want she should get notions."
"Oh, I guess Pen'll know how to take care of herself,"
said Lapham.
"She's got sense enough. But she ain't so practical
as Irene. She's more up in the clouds--more of what you
may call a dreamer. Irene's wide-awake every minute;
and I declare, any one to see these two together when
there's anything to be done, or any lead to be taken,
would say Irene was the oldest, nine times out of ten.
It's only when they get to talking that you can see Pen's got
twice as much brains."
"Well," said Lapham, tacitly granting this point,
and leaning back in his chair in supreme content.
"Did you ever see much nicer girls anywhere?"
His wife laughed at his pride. "I presume they're as much
swans as anybody's geese."
"No; but honestly, now!"
"Oh, they'll do; but don't you be silly, if you can
help it, Si."
The young people came in, and Corey said it was time for
his boat. Mrs. Lapham pressed him to stay, but he persisted,
and he would not let the Colonel send him to the boat;
he said he would rather walk. Outside, he pushed along toward
the boat, which presently he could see lying at her landing
in the bay, across the sandy tract to the left of the hotels.
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