Part 40 (2/2)
”Oh, Miss,” deprecated Perkins, although in his old heart he was glad of her defense.
”Perkins has been out all night hunting for us,” Judy's voice quivered, ”and--and--he is just as tired as we are, Tommy Tolliver.”
But Tommy had his sandwich, and blissfully munching it, cared little for Judy's reproof. After he had finished he went to sleep comfortably in the bottom of the boat, his troubles forgotten.
There was about Launcelot and Perkins an air of subdued excitement that finally attracted Judy's attention.
”What's the matter with you all?” she asked, curiously, as she looked up suddenly from her pile of comfortable cus.h.i.+ons, and caught Perkins smiling at Launcelot over her head.
”Oh, nothing, Miss, nothing at all,” coughed Perkins.
”Has anything happened?”
Launcelot, who was steering, smiled down at her.
”Miss Curiosity,” he teased.
”I'm not curious. I just want to know.”
”Oh, well, that's one way to put it.”
”Tell me. Has anything happened?”
”Yes.”
”What?”
”Something splendid.”
Judy sat up. ”Tell me,” she begged.
But Launcelot was inflexible. ”Not now,” and Judy sank back with a sigh, for she was getting to know that when the big boy said a thing he meant it.
”When will I know?” she asked after a while.
”When you get to The Breakers.”
”Oh.”
She was silent for a little, then she said:
”I know you think it was awful for me to run away with Tommy--”
”It would have been better if you had sent him home.”
”But I wanted to help him--he has such a hard time.”
”He would have a harder time if he went to sea, Judy. He isn't like you, he doesn't like the sea for its own sake. He has read a lot of stuff about sailors and adventures, and his head is full of it. He isn't the kind that makes a brave man.”
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