[106] "See here," cried Ben, "three against one isn't fair, is it, Mr. Ramsey?" he appealed to that gentleman who just then came in.
Mr. Ramsey laughed. "I see it is high time to come to your rescue. Are you ready? If so, I am at your service."
Ben shook himself free of the little girls, picked them up one after another and tossed them in a heap among the cushions of the divan, then strode off in Mr. Ramsey's wake.
The girls, laughing and squealing, crawled out from the cushions to run after the departing figures, but these had already gone too far to be overtaken and they returned to watch them row off.
In about an hour they were back again, bringing a third person. It was Edna who first caught sight of the approaching boat. "I see the boat coming," she sang out, "and there are three persons in it. Oh, girls, I know who is coming; it is Uncle Justus. I know him by his whiskers and his eyebrows, though he isn't wearing a hat, but a funny cap. Do come and see."
"Let's go down to the landing and meet them," proposed Jennie.
This was at once agreed upon and the three little girls went flying across the sands, so as to be on hand when the boat should come up. It seemed very queer to see Uncle Justus in yachting cap and flannels when he had always appeared in most severe dress, and never on any occasion wore such a [107]frivolous thing as a cap. He appeared to have thrown off some of his dignity, too, for he stepped ashore with much agility and actually ran up the long board landing to meet Edna.
"Well, well, well, little girl," he cried, "isn't this a great meeting?"
"It is just fine," returned Edna. "I am mighty glad to see you, Uncle Justus. Are you glad to see me?"
"Not a doubt of it. Did you ever expect to see your old uncle sporting around with a lot of college boys? I am continually surprising myself by saying or doing something I had forgotten, and which belongs properly to youth. They are a great set, those college boys."