“He sat thinking over the question when I put it to him, and all at once he looked up with that quizzical smile of his and asked: ‘What’s the matter with Ellen North and that fine cousin of hers? Why wouldn’t they be just the ones?’ I nearly fell on his neck. Then I rushed over and dragged Aunt Nell away from the people she was sitting with, and we all talked so fast that we had to begin all over again; but finally Mr. Barstow had the floor, and he proposed that I come down here and talk it over with you. He thought Mr. and Mrs. Todd might take me in for a day or two, which they have very kindly done, and that Mr. Todd would meet me, so here I am, thanks to the two blessed men.”
“But are you sure your grandmother will agree?” inquired Miss Rindy with caution.
“Oh, yes, I know she will, for Aunt Nell came back with me to Baltimore and we talked it all over. I think Gran is rather looking forward to watching Fan’s flirtations. The only thing that is uncertain is the matter of a cook, that is, provided you go. We could take our meals at a boarding-house, but it would be more fun to have them at home, don’t you think? I wouldn’t mind a course in domestic science myself, and it would be rather jolly to go to the store and pick out things, you and I, Ellen.”
“It all sounds so perfectly heavenly,” murmured Ellen. “I’ve never spent a summer at the seashore, and I have always longed to go to Maine.”
“You must understand,” Mabel went on hesitatingly, “that there will not be the slightest expense attached to the undertaking, and that whatever salary should be attached to the office of chaperon will be yours, Miss Crump. You will be my guests, of course.”
Miss Rindy’s head went up. “I could not think of demanding a salary. To be your guests would be a privilege sufficient to balance matters.”
Mabel looked helplessly at Ellen, who shook her head warningly. One must not antagonize Miss Rindy in matters of this sort. It was evident that she was disposed to think favorably of the proposition, and of Mabel, so the latter switched off to another subject.
“One lovely thing about going up to this island is that we don’t have to bother about clothes. We can dress any old way we choose. We shall need some warm things, I warn you, for it never gets very hot, except sometimes in the middle of the day, and even then you can count upon a breeze from the sea. I was there for a week once, and I know.”
“One would suppose it was all settled,” said Miss Rindy smiling.
“Oh, but it is, at least nearly, isn’t it?” said Ellen, throwing her arms around her cousin.