“Shall we start for Boston on Tuesday or Thursday?” Anne asked the next morning, as she helped Rose put their pleasant chamber in order.
“Father has not decided,” replied Rose, feeling rather cowardly that she did not tell Anne the truth.
“It will be fine to ride in a chaise,” went on Anne happily, “and to stop in taverns, and see towns along the way. Your father is indeed good, Rose, to take me.”
“We must do up the dishes for Aunt Hetty,” said Rose briskly, “and then we can walk down the street, and maybe father will drive us about the town.”
While the girls were busy helping Aunt Hetty, Rose’s father was on his way to the Mashpee village to see Amos Cary and to give him a letter to take to Captain Stoddard. He found the boy just ready to start. Shining Fish had launched his canoe and was to go part of the way with his new friend, greatly to Amos’s delight.
“Anne wasn’t to blame.” Amos repeated this a number of times so earnestly that Mr. Freeman began to realize that the boy knew more than he was willing to tell, and to blame Amos.
“That Amanda,” Amos whispered to himself, as he blushed and stammered and evaded Mr. Freeman’s questions.
“I suppose I can trust you with this letter to Captain Stoddard?” said Mr. Freeman.