“Oh, I can do better than that,” declared Winnie. “I am sure I have learned as far as Spica. What about you, Jo?”
“I’ve scarcely begun. Of course I know a few of the stars. Grad is wonderful in his knowledge of them, being a sailor man, and he has pointed out some. He’ll be perfectly delighted if I finish a map.”
“Your grandfather is such an old dear,” remarked Winnie. “I’d love to have one just like him; I can say that as I do not remember either of mine. Where shall we meet, Clausie, and when?”
“Why not meet here on Friday nights, unless something special comes up? You know our upper porch is a fine lookout place, to say nothing of the cupola. If it is cold we can wrap up, and if it rains or is too cloudy we’ll do something else. You girls can stay all night and we’ll have a joyous time.”
“I think that’s the loveliest plan ever,” cried Joanne, “and I think you are a perfect dear, Clausie, to suggest it. I hope Gradda won’t object; she’s sort of queer about my getting from under her wing, you know. Last summer was the first time she ever consented to it, and then it was only after Grad read her the Riot act.”
“He’ll have to do it again, I think,” returned Winnie laughing. “He’ll approve of your studying the stars, I am sure, so it will be easy to get him around to your side.”
“Oh, you must come,” insisted Claudia. “I’m really crazy about the plan. I don’t see why we didn’t think of it sooner.”
Joanne looked thoughtful. “I’m afraid Gradda will argue that I can study stars with Grad any old time.”
“But you can’t do it half so well in a shut-in street as out here,” protested Claudia.
“True, O queen. Well, I’ll do my best. Come on, Winnie; if we want to get home before dark we’d better ‘git goin’,’ as Unc’ Aaron says.”