It is dreadful of me to be deceiving her and I do feel guilty . I sat down on the sand and pretended to read the `` Memoirs of a Missionary '' -- Aunt likes cheerful books like that -- in an agony of anticipation . Presently Aunt said , majestically : `` Marguer_ite , there is a man coming this way . We will move further down . '' And we moved . Poor Aunt ! Mr. Shelmardine came bravely on . I felt my heart beating to my very finger tips . He halted by the fragment of an old stranded boat . Aunt had turned her back on him . I ventured on a look . He lifted his hat with a twinkle in his eye . Just then Aunt said , icily : `` We will go home , Marguer_ite . That creature evidently intends to persist in his intrusion . '' Home we came accordingly . This morning he signalled across : `` Letter from Connie . Message for you . I mean to deliver it personally . Do you ever go to church ? '' Now , I do go regularly to church at home .
But XXXXX Martha and Mrs. Saxby are both such rigid church people that they would not darken the doors of the Methodist church at Plover Sands for any consideration .
Aunt Memoirs boat church eye fragment heart look morning way