Part 38 (2/2)

She laughed. ”If I had as much to talk about--worth while talking about--as you have,” she declared, ”I should never want to stop. Well, I must be getting back to the Fair Harbor--and the squabbles.”

”Too bad. Can I help you with 'em?”

”No, I'm afraid not. They're not big enough for you.”

They turned to the door. She spoke again.

”You are going to drive to Orham to-morrow afternoon?” she asked.

”Eh? Oh, yes. The Foam Flake and I will make the voyage--if we have luck.”

”And you are going--alone?”

”Yes. Judah thinks I shouldn't. Probably he thinks the Foam Flake may fall dead, or get to walkin' in his sleep and step off the bank or somethin'. But I'm goin' to risk it. I guess likely I can keep him in the channel.”

She waited a moment. Then she smiled and shook her head.

”Cap'n,” she said, ”you make it awfully hard for me. And this is the second time. Really, I feel so--so brazen.”

”Brazen?”

”Yes. Why don't you invite me to ride to Orham with you? Why must I _always_ have to invite myself?”

He turned to look at her. She colored a little, but she returned his look.

”You--you mean it?” he demanded.

”Of course I mean it. I must get there somehow, because I promised Mr.

Bradley. And unless you don't want me, in which case I shall have to hire from the livery stable, I----”

But he interrupted her. ”Want you!” he repeated. ”_Want_ you!”

His tone was sufficiently emphatic, perhaps more emphatic than he would have made it if he had not been taken by surprise. She must have found it satisfactory, for she did not ask further a.s.surances.

”Thank you,” she said. ”And when are you planning to start?”

”Why--why, right after dinner to-morrow. If that's all right for you.

But I'm sorry you had to invite yourself. I--I thought--well, I thought maybe George had--had planned----”

To his further surprise she seemed a trifle annoyed.

”George works at the store,” she said. ”Besides, I--well, really, Cap'n Kendrick, there is no compelling reason why George Kent should take me everywhere I want to go.”

Now Sears had imagined there was--and rumor and surmise in Bayport had long supported his imagining--but he did not tell her that. What he did say was inane enough.

”Oh--er--yes, of course,” he stammered.

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