Part 7 (2/2)
”You don't know the risin' hour for us folks at the Bay,” returned Denny, with a sly wink. ”Freddie couldn't stay abed when the sun is beckonin' on the waves; could you, Freddie?”
”Oh, the early Summer mornings are beautiful,” replied Freda, ”and I am sorry I had to lose so many of them. Who's that? The girls, looking for us! There's Bess puffing, and Belle--fluffing. I do think they are the most attractive pair.”
Cora smiled, for her own devotion to the Robinson twins was only paralleled by the twins' devotion to Cora.
”Cora! Freda!” called youthful voices from the path. ”Where are you?”
”Come in--do!” answered Denny, who always had a spare chair for visitors.
”Oh, we can't,” replied Belle. ”Cora, the boys are threatening to take out the _Chelton_. And oh! I'm completely out of breath. It's dreadful to try to hurry through the sand.”
”Indeed they shall not take the _Chelton_ out without my permission,”
Cora declared. ”When we make our initial trip I intend to command it.
For one thing, Uncle Denny is to come along; for another--well, that's to be a little surprise. This afternoon at two exactly--will you come, Uncle Denny?”
”I will that,” the old sailor replied. ”I think it would be a good thing to have a little weight, like my old head, in her when she starts out. Them laddies are always up to pranks.”
”Oh, we are just crazy to get out on the water,” Bess put in, ”and what do you think? That vain little Lottie went all the way to town to get the exact nautical cap. I wonder if she thinks folks in motor boats run slowly enough to see little white caps on little light girls?”
”When we get going I think all that will be seen will be splash, and all that will be heard will be chug,” Cora remarked. ”But come on.
Let's hurry along. I promised Rita to help her with something.”
”What?” asked Bess, curiously.
”Now, Bessie, that would be telling,” replied Cora, stopping just long enough to empty the sand from her tennis shoe. Denny was trudging along after them--he could not resist an excuse to go down to the sh.o.r.e.
”Well, I'll say good-bye,” said Freda. ”I have to run back to mother.
She will think I am lost.”
”But you are coming this afternoon?” Cora insisted.
”Oh, I really can't, Cora, thank you,” answered the other. ”I have something so important to look after.”
”What are you girls up to?” demanded Belle. ”You have been acting mysteriously ever since you met on the train. Freda, it is really unpardonable not to take the initial trip with us, but if you really cannot----”
”I really cannot,” returned Freda, decisively, and somehow the girls realized that Freda's business was urgent.
”Now, I'll show you a short cut,” said Denny. ”Take that path there--don't be afraid of the sign that the owner put up--he has no right to the beach front; then when you get to the Lonely Willow--do you know where that is?”
Not one of them knew, but they were anxious to find out.
”You can't miss the Lonely Willow, for it stands all alone and looks as forlorn as the mast of a sunken steamer,” said Denny. ”It's in the deep hollow by the watercress patch. Turn around that tree to your left and you'll see another path. But wait a minute,” he broke off, ”maybe it's a bit lonely.”
”Oh, there are enough of us to shout if we see bears,” Cora laughed.
”We have to hurry, and we will be glad to explore.”
<script>