Fall of a Philanderer Read Online Free

steadying hand on the rim. The hiker and the farm lad took places as far from her as possible. Several more people arrived just in time to catch the ferry, and then the rowers pushed off.
    â€œLook, Mummy.” On her outstretched palm Bel displayed a curlicued shell. “Watch. It’ll come out in a minute.”
    â€œIt’s not likely to bite you, is it, darling?”
    â€œOh no, it’ll just tickle when it walks. Granny would never let me have one but I’ve seen boys holding them. Watch!”
    Deva peered around Daisy, on whose other side she had prudently placed herself. The hiker leant forward. Even Mrs. Hammett was looking, though she tried to pretend she wasn’t.

    Two minute claws poked out. Belinda twitched involuntarily and they pulled back, but a moment later they reappeared, followed by a pair of antennae that tested the air. Eyestalks came next, with black dots on the end for eyes. Daisy thought the poor thing looked rather alarmed, but it put out two legs on each side and started to scuttle across Bel’s hand, dragging the shell behind it.
    Again Bel twitched, and the tiny creature disappeared into its refuge.
    â€œOne of the Paguridae ,” said the hiker knowledgeably. “It won’t live long away from the water, you know.”
    â€œOh, I don’t want it to die. Should I throw it in?”
    â€œWell, it would prefer a rock pool, or even the beach.”
    â€œWe’ll take it to the rocks by the beach, won’t we, Deva?”
    â€œAs long as I don’t have to touch it,” said Deva.
    The young man grinned at Daisy, who smiled back. “Thanks for the warning,” she said.
    â€œI remember all too well my sister weeping for an hour over a dead hermit crab.”
    Mrs. Hammett stared at Daisy and muttered all too audibly, “Talking to strange men—I don’t know what the world’s coming to!”
    The rest of the short trip was accomplished in uncomfortable silence.
    The ebbing tide had exposed a whole flight of the slimy, seaweedy steps. Mrs. Hammett was the first to disembark. Standing on the lowest step, she half turned and reached back to take the basket of eggs from the boatman. One foot slipped slightly. In her effort to keep her balance, she missed the basket handle just as the boatman let go. Only Daisy’s quick reaction saved the eggs.
    With a wink, the boatman took the basket from Daisy and handed it back to Mrs. Hammett. Red-faced, her lips tight, she continued up the steps.
    Belinda and Deva were equally red-faced, from suppressed giggles. The hiker’s grin was broader than ever. “Go ahead,” he said to Daisy. “I’ll come behind and see that your girls don’t fall.”

    At the top, Daisy found Mrs. Hammett waiting for her. “Thank you for saving my eggs,” she said ungraciously. “They ought to keep those steps scrubbed. It’s a disgrace. I shall complain.”
    â€œThey are rather slippery. I’m glad you didn’t fall.” If only because you would have fallen on me , Daisy added to herself.
    â€œA death-trap. Are you staying in the town?”
    â€œYes, we’re on holiday.”
    Belinda came up the steps, followed by Deva. Seeing Daisy occupied, they moved aside to wait, whispering.
    â€œI thought they didn’t allow girls that age to be servants these days,” said Mrs. Hammett, “but I suppose her being a native—”
    â€œDeva is my daughter’s school friend,” Daisy said sharply. “Her father is an important official at India House.”
    â€œOh, well, in that case—” She paused as the hiker reached the top, frowning when he flashed a smile at Daisy as he passed. “My dear, a word of warning.”
    Daisy suppressed a sigh, but short of being downright rude she couldn’t think of a way to escape. “Excuse me for just a moment. Girls, run along and find a new home for the crab, then go and