Part 8 (2/2)
There was a small kitchen back of the dining room, and both Ruth and Agnes were interested to see how conveniently everything was arranged.
”It would be ever so much easier to get meals here than in the Corner House,” was Ruth's opinion.
”Do you think so?” asked the lawyer.
”Yes, everything is so handy. You hardly have to take a step to reach anything,” added Agnes. ”You only have to turn from the stove to the sink, and another turn and you have everything you want, from a toasting fork to an egg beater,” and she indicated the different kitchen utensils hanging in a rack over the stove.
”I'm glad you like it,” said Mr. Howbridge, and Ruth found herself wondering why he said that.
They pa.s.sed into the sleeping quarters where small bunks, almost like those in Pullman cars, were neatly arranged, even to a white counterpane and pillow shams on each one.
”Oh, how lovely.”
”And how clean and neat!”
”It's just like a sleeping car on the railroad.”
”Yes, or one of those staterooms on some steamers.”
”A person could sleep as soundly here as in a bed at home,” was Ruth's comment.
”Yes, unless the houseboat rocked like a s.h.i.+p,” said Agnes.
”I don't think it could rock much on the ca.n.a.l.”
”No, but it might on a river, or a lake. I guess a houseboat like this can go almost anywhere.”
There were two sets of sleeping rooms, one on either side of a middle hall or pa.s.sageway. Then came a small bathroom. And back of that was something that made Neale cry out in delight.
”Why, the boat has an engine!” exclaimed the boy. ”It runs by motor!”
”Yes, the _Bluebird_ is a motor houseboat,” said Mr. Howbridge, with a smile. ”It really belongs on Lake Macopic, but to get it there through the ca.n.a.l mules will have to be used, as this boat has such a big propeller that it would wash away the ca.n.a.l banks. It is not allowed to move it through the ca.n.a.l under its own power.”
”That's a dandy engine all right!” exclaimed Neale, and he knew something about them for one summer he had operated a small motor craft on the Gentory River, as well as running the Corner House girls'
automobile for them. ”I wish I could run this,” he went on with a sigh, ”but I don't suppose there's any chance.”
”I don't know about that,” said the lawyer, musingly. ”That is what I brought Minerva here to talk about. Let's go back to the main cabin and sit down.”
”I'm going to sit on one of the lockers!” cried Tess, darting off ahead of the others.
”I want to sit on it, too!” exclaimed Dot.
”There are two lockers on the floor--one for each,” laughed Mr.
Howbridge.
As the little party moved into the main cabin, Ruth found herself wondering more and more what Mr. Howbridge wanted her opinion on. She was not long, however, in learning.
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