Part 24 (2/2)
There was no need to further impose silence on the Camp Girls.
Eager-eyed, they leaned forward, gazing straight at the smiling woman at the head of the table.
”I wanted Mr. McCarthy to tell you. However, as he refuses, I shall do so. You are to have a boat for the rest of the summer. The boat is the gift of Mr. McCarthy to the Meadow-Brook Girls directly, and to the rest of you indirectly.”
”What kind of a boat ith it?” piped Tommy.
”A sailboat,” answered the visitor. ”I have appointed Miss Burrell as the commodore, though she doesn't know it. I understand she did very well as the captain of the 'Red Rover' last summer. Now we'll give her a trial on salt water. You will look to her for your orders and permission to go out, and I imagine you won't have any cause to complain of her treatment of you, eh, Harriet?”
”O Mr. McCarthy! you embarra.s.s me. But tell us about the boat,”
answered Harriet laughingly.
”It's just a little old sailboat, that's all--one I picked up at Portsmouth; but even though she's a tub, she is perfectly safe and you may go as far as you wish with her, always first consulting with the captain and the commodore.”
”Oh, is there to be a captain? Am I to be the captain?” questioned Jane mischievously.
”My grathiouth, I hope not,” exclaimed Grace.
”No. The captain owns this particular boat, and he will be wholly in charge of the actual operation of it, acting upon the orders of the commodore as to who is to go and when and where. Now it's all out and I'm glad of it. I--”
Mr. McCarthy's further words were unheard because of the cheer given by the Camp Girls, in which Mrs. Livingston and the guardians joined enthusiastically, much to the discomfiture of the guest, who half rose as though to run away. Evidently thinking better of it, he settled back in his seat and wiped his forehead.
Jane got up, and, running to her father, threw a pair of impulsive arms about his neck.
”Isn't he the darling Dad, though, girls?”
”He is,” agreed the Chief Guardian.
”You won't think tho after we have all gone and drowned ourthelveth from thith--from the--what ith the name of the thhip on which we are going to thail the thalt water?”
”Her name is 'The Sister Sue,'” replied Mr. McCarthy.
”Thave me!” wailed Tommy. ”The boat may be all right, but think of being drowned in a name like that! Now, if it wath 'The Queen of the Theath,' or thome thuch name ath that, I thouldn't so much mind being drowned in her, but 'The Thithter Thue'--thave uth!”
”You are not going to drown at all,” laughed Miss Elting, ”so don't begin to lay any plans in that direction.”
”When is the boat coming here, Daddy?” questioned Jane.
”To-morrow morning early, if they have her ready in time. I told the owner to slap some new clothes on her, and make her presentable by to-morrow, sure. How do you like the idea, girls?”
”Oh, it's just too glorious for anything,” cried Margery, now awakened to the possibilities of having a sailboat of their very own. Tommy regarded her quizzically, opened her mouth to speak, then closed her lips.
”What is it, dear?” questioned Miss Elting.
”It ith nothing now. Maybe I'll thay it when we get to thea, provided Buthter doeth not thay it for me.”
<script>