In her surprise over the second clause of his answer , Miss Trevor forgot , at first , to appreciate the last . `` Over there , '' according to his gesture , was up at the head of Noel 's Cove , where there was a little grey house perched on the rocks and looking like a large seashell cast up by the tide . The house had a stovepipe coming out of its roof in lieu of a chimney , and two of its window panes were replaced by shingles . Could this boy , who looked as young princes should -- and seldom do -- live there ? Then he was a shore boy after all . `` Who lives there with you ? '' she asked . `` You see '' -- plaintively -- `` I must ask questions about you . I know we like each other , and that is all that really matters . But there are some tiresome items which it would be convenient to know . For example , have you a father -- a mother ? Are there any more of you ? How long have you been yourself ? '' Paul did not reply immediately . He clasped his hands behind him and looked at her affectionately . `` I like the way you talk , '' he said . `` I never knew anybody did talk like that except folks in books and my rock people . '' `` Your rock people ? '' `` I 'm eleven years old . I have n't any father or mother , they 're dead .
I live XXXXX there with Stephen Kane .
For after as behind like of on over that to