Sure enough when the boat stopped there stood the pair with eager hands ready to take the girls’ packs, and in spite of protests, loaded themselves down and went on to the lodge. “We can’t have that, you know,” said Claudia to Winnie. “We’ve got to do things for ourselves, or we shall lose half the joy, besides missing our chances of earning merit badges.”
Joanne looked distressed. “I know, but you see Unc’ Aaron is accustomed to doing things for Cousin Ned and his friends when they come up, and he won’t understand that he isn’t expected to do them for us, the more so that he considers us young ladies who must be waited on.”
“I see. Well, we’ll put it up to Miss Dodge and let her grapple with the situation.”
This they did and their captain promised that she would deal as delicately with the old darkey as she could, but that her girls must not be deprived of their experiences. They found the fires laid and Unc’ Aaron prepared to make his famous griddle cakes for supper.
“Oh, dear,” exclaimed Claudia, “we can’t let him do that, can we, Miss Dodge?”
“He’ll be so disappointed,” Joanne put in. “I don’t see why he can’t make them this once. Somebody might watch him, some one who is cleverer than I and who could write out the recipe afterward.”
Miss Dodge laughed. “For the sake of that I think we shall have to give in this time. I wonder, by the way, how he knew we were coming.”
“I think Mr. Dawson must have told him, for he knew when he started yesterday that he was to bring us back with him.”
“Of course; that explains it. I think I’ll go into the kitchen and take a hand in things. Probably he will respect my authority more than that of any of you younger ones.”
Claudia and Joanne went off to find the other girls bustling about making ready the rooms for the night. “There’s not such an awful lot to do,” complained Winnie. “To be sure the place isn’t so powerful clean, but the beds are made. We’ll give the whole house a thorough going over and leave it spick and span for Mr. Pattison.”