Part 17 (2/2)

Good! Tell them to come along.

Noits to-morrowletters been here since yesterday. Ill telegraph.

As we tramped home we planned the day. Well meet them and all walk up together, said Jonathan.

Wed better catch some ba.s.s and leave them all hooked in a pool, ready for them to pull out, I added; otherwise they may not catch any. And maybe youd better meet them and Ill have dinner ready when you get back.

Nonsense! You come, and well all get dinner when we get back. Thats what theyre coming forto see the whole thing.

But if its latetheyve got to get back for that down train.

Welltime enough.

Oh, Jonathan! What about catching that train?

Theyll have watcheswatches that go.

But what about our meeting them? The train arrives at 10:15, they said.

What does 10:15 look like in the sky, I wonder!

Or rather, what does 8.45 look like? It takes an hour and a half to get there, counting crossing the river.

Yesdear me! Well, Jonathan, well just have to get up early and go, and then wait.

Or else take our watch to the farmhouse and set it.

Jonathan, I will not! Id rather start at daylight.

Which was very nearly what we did. The morning opened with a sun obscured, and I felt sure it was stealing a march on us and would suddenly burst out upon us from a noonday sky. We breakfasted hastily, ferried across to sh.o.r.e, and set a swinging pace down the road. As we walked, the sun burned through the mist, and our shadows came out, dim, long things, striding with the exaggerated gait that shadows have, over the gra.s.sy banks to our right.

I think, said Jonathan, it may be as late as seven oclock, but perhaps its only six.

When we reached the station, the official clock registered 8.30. We strolled over to the store-and-post-office and got more lettersone from Molly and Jack saying thank you theyd come. They dont entirely understand our mail system up here, said Jonathan. We got some ginger-cookies and some milk and had a second breakfast, and finally wandered back to the station to wait for the train. It came, bearing the expected two, and much friendliness. Get our letter? There, Jack! He said you wouldnt, but I said you would. I made him send it four miles to walk? What fun!

It was fun, indeed, and all went well until after dinner, when Jacksaying, Well, maybe wed better be starting back for that traindrew out his watch. He opened it, muttered something, put it to his ear, then began to wind it rapidly. He wound and wound. We all laughed.

Looks as if you hadnt remembered to wind it last night, said Jonathan, glancing at me.

I havent done that in months, hang it! Give me the time, will you, Jonathan? said Jack.

Sorry! Jonathan was smiling genially. Mines run down too. It stopped at twenty-two minutes before fiveA. M., I think.

What luck! And Molly didnt bring hers.

You told me not to, Molly flicked in.

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