“The little monkey! Do you mean to say she took your canoe off and left you no way of getting back?”
“Oh, I could have walked, but I didn’t want to leave her up here alone. You see she’s lost her head and can’t do a thing with the canoe, so she is just letting it drift. She managed all right at first, but when she tried to get back she became so scared that she forgot all I had told her. I couldn’t get to her nor she to me, but I didn’t want to leave her absolutely in the lurch. Is dinner over?”
“Yes, long ago. We came away just after. We all came to the conclusion that you two had taken something with you and had preferred to picnic. It’s a burning shame.”
“I do feel the pangs of hunger,” acknowledged Nan, “although we had some berries a while ago, but they are not very satisfying. Could you girls go out there and bring that little sinner back, do you think?”
“Why, of course. Come, Daniella,” and Jo turned the canoe in Jack’s direction. So before very long Jack was rescued from her unpleasant situation, and was brought back a repentant culprit to her sister.
Now that her sister was out of danger Nan felt her anger returning, and after giving one withering look at the offender, she turned to her friends and said: “We’ll not keep you, girls, for I know you are out for a good time. We’ll go back and see if we can find anything to eat. I am almost starved.”
“I am afraid you will get no dinner,” Jo said. “You know the rule is ‘no meals after hours,’ and you know how cross old Hetty is if she is disturbed when she has cleared away.”
“I’ll risk her crossness,” returned Nan lightly. “She can’t do more than refuse me. Thanks, girls, for coming to the rescue.”
She stepped into the canoe and pushed off, not deigning to give Jack a word.
Very meekly sat Jack. “Won’t you forgive me, Nan?” she asked after a while. But she might have spoken to a graven image for all Nan gave sign of hearing, and Jack lapsed into silence, though at intervals she repeated her question plaintively.