Part 62 (2/2)
”I didn't feel like eating, but I did eat a bowl of bread and milk.”
”Do you intend to feed me on that?”
”No; come in and help, and I'll get you the nicest supper you ever had.”
”I suppose I ought to go over and see father.”
”Wait till afterward, and I'll go with you. O, Will! suppose it is fair to-morrow, will he make you sail on Sunday?”
”I never _have_ sailed on Sunday.”
”But he has! He says it is all nonsense not to take advantage of the wind.”
”I have been in s.h.i.+ps that did do it. But I prefer not to. The _Linnet_ is ready as far as she can be, and not be in motion; there will not be as much to do as there is often in a storm at sea; but this is not an emergency, and I won't do it if I can help it.”
”But your father is so determined.”
”So am I,” said Will in a determined voice.
”But you do not own a plank in her,” said Linnet anxiously. ”Oh, I hope it _won't_ be fair to-morrow.”
”It isn't fair to-night, at any rate. I believe you were to give a hungry traveller some supper.”
Linnet ran in to kindle the fire and make a cup of tea; Will cut the cold boiled ham and the bread, while Linnet brought the cake and sugared the blueberries.
”Linnet, we have a precious little home.”
”Thanks to your good father.”
”Yes, thanks to my father. I ought not to displease him,” Will returned seriously.
”You do please him; you satisfy him in everything. He told Hollis so.”
”Why, I didn't tell you that Hollis came in the train with me. See how you make me forget everything. He is to stay here a day or so, and then go on a fis.h.i.+ng excursion with some friends, and then come back here for another day or so. What a fine fellow he is. He is the gentleman among us boys.”
”I would like to know what you are,” said Linnet indignantly.
”A rough old tar,” laughed Will, for the sake of the flash in his wife's eyes.
”Then I'm a rough old tar too,” said Linnet decidedly.
How short the evening was! They went across the fields to see Hollis, and to talk over affairs with the largest owner of the _Linnet_. Linnet wondered when she knelt beside Will that night if it would be wrong to ask G.o.d to keep the wind ahead until Monday morning. Marjorie moaned in her sleep in real trouble. Linnet dreamed that she awoke Sunday morning and the wind had not changed.
But she did not awake until she heard a heavy rap on the window pane. It was scarcely light, and Will had sprung out of bed and had raised the window and was talking to his father.
”I'll be here in an hour or less time to drive you into Portland. Hollis won't drive you; but I'll be here on time.”
”But, father,” expostulated Will. He had never resisted his father's will as the others had done. He inherited his mother's peace-loving disposition; he could only expostulate and yield.
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