The two little girls played with the doll and kitten and Captain Enos kept on with his work.
“I wish I had a doll,” he heard Amanda say. “I have asked Amos to make me one, but he is not clever at whittling out things.”
Captain Enos nodded to himself smilingly. Since Anne and Amos and Amanda had been carried down the harbor to House Point Island together, and he had heard how pleasant Amanda had been to Anne, he had liked the Cary children better, and had quite forgiven their old-time teasing ways. After Amanda had started for home he called Anne to him and said, “I have another secret!”
“Yes!” said Anne, with a gay little laugh.
“Would you like to make Amanda Cary a present?” he questioned.
“I could not give her my doll,” answered Anne, her bright face growing sober. “’Tis all I have that my father made.”
“But if I make another doll, a fine wooden doll, as near like yours as I can, would you like to give that to Amanda?” asked Uncle Enos.
“Oh, yes! Yes, indeed,” said Anne, the smiles all coming back again.
“Then ’Tis a secret till I have the doll finished,” said Captain Enos; “then maybe you can make a dress for it, and give it to Amanda, just as she gave you her white kitten.”
Anne was very happy over this secret; it seemed even better than the new wooden chair for Martha Stoddard Nelson.