She drew back her head from the great piece he held at her lips but was forced to take one mouthful in self-defence. But Dorothy, in similar fix was eating as if she were afraid of losing the dainty, while Gerald merrily pretended to snatch it away.
“Ha! That shows the difference—greed and daintiness!”
Then in a changed tone he exclaimed:
“Pretty close shave for the pickaninny!”
Dorothy held her dripping bit of melon at arm’s length and quickly asked:
“What do you mean? Why do you look so sober all of a sudden?”
“Metty came near drowning. Tried to follow his mother over the field to the melon-patch and fell into the water. Mrs. Calvert was walking around the deck and heard the splash. Nobody else was near. She ran around to that side and saw him. Then she screamed. Old Cap’n says by the time he got there the little chap was going under for the last time. Don’t know how he knew that—doubt if he did—but if he did—but he wouldn’t spoil a story for a little thing like a lie. Queer old boy, that skipper, with his pretended log and his broken spy-glass. He——”
“Never mind that, go on—go on! He was saved, wasn’t he? Oh! say that he was!” begged Dolly, wringing her hands.
“Course. And you’re dripping pink juice all over your skirt!”