The great revolving light at the channel trembled and flashed against the opal sky , and far out , beyond the golden sand-dunes of the bar , was the crinkled gray ribbon of a passing steamer 's smoke . `` There , is n't that view worth looking at ? '' said old Abel , with a loving , proprietary pride . `` You do n't have to pay anything for it , either . All that sea and sky free -- ` without money and without price ' . Let 's sit down here in the hop-vine arbour , master . There 'll be a moonrise presently . I 'm never tired of finding out what a moonrise sheen can be like over that sea . There 's a surprise in it every time . Now , master , you 're getting your mouth in the proper shape to talk business -- but do n't you do it . Nobody should talk business when he 's expecting a moonrise . Not that I like talking business at any time . '' `` Unfortunately it has to be talked of sometimes , Mr. Armstrong , '' I said . `` Yes , it seems to be a necessary evil , master , '' he acknowledged . `` But I know what business you 've come upon , and we can settle it in five minutes after the moon 's well up . I 'll just agree to everything you and the other two trustees want . Lord knows why they ever put me on the school board . Maybe it 's because I 'm so ornamental . They wanted one good-looking man , I reckon . '' His low chuckle , so full of mirth and so free from malice , was infectious .
I laughed also , as I sat down in the hop-vine XXXXX .
Abel Armstrong arbour everything malice minutes moon moonrise sand-dunes sky