“Thank you!” exclaimed Olivia. “I’m sure we’re very sorry that we have given you so much work. We didn’t know we were so heavy; did we girls?”
“No, indeed!” chimed in Rose. “If you will kindly row us back to shore, we’ll get out and you boys can go where you please. Work! The idea!”
“Oh, I say now!” cried Ned, alarmed at the effect of his words. “I didn’t mean—Jerry didn’t mean—we—”
“Of course not!” added Jerry. “I only said—”
“You said it was hard work to row us around,” declared Nellie in rather icy tones.
“Well I meant—you see since we had a motor boat—that is I—we—it’s rather—”
“Now don’t try to get out of it and make it worse,” advised Olivia. “We know what you said, and what you meant.”
“I didn’t say anything,” put in Bob, with an air of virtue.
“Good reason,” declared Jerry. “You’re so busy eating that cocoanut candy that you didn’t have time to speak. Besides you’re not rowing.”
“Oh, has he got cocoanut candy!” cried Nellie. “Give me some and we’ll forgive you for the rude way you and Ned spoke, Jerry. Won’t we girls?”