“Well, they will. I’m sure Mr. Stillwell will wait and take our mid-day dinner with us. Besides being glad to make his acquaintance, I want to ask advice. What we are to do with the Water Lily; how to safely get the most pleasure out of it. Would you like to go over the boats, Mr. Stillwell?”
This was exactly what he did wish; and presently Aunt Betty was guiding him about, displaying and explaining every detail of the little craft, as eager and animated as if she had designed it. The Colonel stalked solemnly in the rear, sighing now and then over such wasted effort and enthusiasm, and silently wondering how a Calvert could meet on such equal terms a mere farmer, one of those “common Stillwells.”
However, neither of the others paid him any attention, being too absorbed in their own talk; and the stranger in maturing a plan to help his hostess and her household.
When everything had been examined and tested by his common sense he explained:
“If this here Water Lily war mine, which she isn’t; and I wanted to get the most good and most fun out of her, which I don’t, I’d light right out from this region. I’d get shet of all them gapin’ Corner-ites and Jimpson-ites, and boats passin’ by an’ takin’ notes of things. I’d get a sensible tug to haul me, tender an’ all, a mite further up stream till I met the Branch. I’d be hauled clean into that fur as war practical, then I’d ‘paddle my own canoe.’ Meanin’ that then I’d hitch a rope to my mule, or use my poles, till I fetched up alongside Deer-Copse on the Ottawotta Run. There ain’t no purtier spot on the face of God’s good earth nor that. I war born there, or nigh-hand to it. If a set of idle folks can’t be happy on the Ottawotta, then they sure deserve to be unhappy.”
Aunt Betty was enchanted. From his further description she felt that this wonderful Run was the very stream for them to seek; and with her old decision of manner she asked Mr. Stillwell to arrange everything for her and not to stint in the matter of expense. Then she laughed:
“I have really no right to say that, either, for I’m only a guest on this boat-party. The Water Lily belongs to my little niece and it is she who will pay the bills. I wonder how soon it could be arranged with such a tug! Do you know one?”
“Sure. Right away, this evenin’, if you like. I happen to have a loose foot, to-day, and can tend to it. To-morrow’s market and I’ll have to be up soon, and busy late. Is ’t a bargain? If ’tis, I’ll get right about it.”
By “evening” meant with these Marylanders all the hours after mid-day; and, declining any refreshment, Mr. Stillwell departed about this business. His alertness and cheerfulness put new life into Aunt Betty and the widow, who hustled about putting into fresh order the already immaculate Lily.
“If we’re going to move I want everything spick-and-span. And the girls’ll come in right tired after their wood tramp. Wonderful, ain’t it? How ’t that peeked, puny Elsa is a gainin’ right along. Never see the beat. She’ll make a right smart lot of good, wholesome flesh, if she keeps on enjoyin’ her victuals as she does now. Looks as if she lived on slops most of her short life. See anything more wants doing, Mrs. Calvert?”