Cap'n Si laughed at this. "That's what the sea air does for folks," he said. "I guess you'll take a [52]pound or two more home with you than you come with."
Edna looked down at her chubby little self and came to the conclusion that she would not care to take back too many more pounds, for she didn't like her brothers to call her Butterball, as they were in the habit of doing when they wanted to tease her. However, this did not prevent her from doing full justice to the biscuits and butter, the little cakes and the sweet chocolate with which they ended their meal.
Then Cap'n Si said it was about time they were starting back, so they did not have time to explore the grove and had not gathered half the seaweeds they had intended to, though they were not so much disturbed at this lack because Jennie said, "Oh, well, don't bother, we can come here any time, and there will be just as many things as there are now."
Edna turned this over in her mind for some time. It seemed a strange fact that in spite of the tide's forever washing away shells and weeds and pebbles, it forever washed in more to take the place of what had been given again to the sea.
She smiled up into Cap'n Si's face as she clasped his horny hand when they were about to land. "I think it is all so beautiful," she said, "and I don't wonder you like it so much. Thank you for telling us about all those things. I hope you'll take us out again."
[53] Cap'n Si gave an answering smile. "Any time you want to go, just h'ist the flag," he said. Then he rowed off in his boat across the shining waters.
"Oh, dear," said Edna with a sigh. "I am having such a lovely time I hate the day to be over."
"But there's to-morrow," replied Jennie cheerfully.
[54][CHAPTER IV]
THE PORCH PARTY
This first afternoon was followed by many others quite as happy. Shelly Beach came to be a familiar spot, the grove was more than once explored, the drives up and down the coast became old acquaintances, while Cap'n Si grew to be as well known as any member of Jennie's family. The little girls were never allowed to go out in a sail boat and never were permitted to go too far in the rowboat though Mr. Ramsey promised that some day they should all go on a sailing party, even Miss Eloise. The salt baths and the fine air were doing Miss Eloise so much good that one might expect almost anything would be possible for her before the summer was over. She was a great favorite with everybody, and with none more than the three little girls to whom she gave confidences she withheld from older persons, and they came to know a great deal about the circumstances of herself and sister.