There was no need for Clarence to finish his sentence. Dora was off at once, and returned very quickly with a plate of cold meat and some crusts of bread. The repast, if the truth must be told, was not very inviting. However, it did not seem to strike Clarence in that way at all; for, standing with the plate in his hand, he set about eating with a vigor which promised a speedy disappearance of everything offered him.
“You said you weren’t very hungry,” said Dora, trying to suppress a smile.
“I’m not,” replied Clarence, continuing to do yeoman’s work.
“When you are hungry, I’d like to be around,” said the girl.
“Suppose,” said Clarence, “that we come back to our original subject. We were talking about you and the bright-eyed goddess of adventure.”
“Yes. Do go on, Clarence.”
“Well, anyhow, I’ve been reading books of travel and adventure all this summer. Last night I finished Treasure Island, and it got me going. I was just crazy to have a few adventures; so I called on the bright-eyed goddess to come on and set ’em up.”
“Did she come?”
“Come! I should say she did! She’s worn her welcome out already. But that’s not what I wanted to say. Just before I woke up in that boat, which Pete and his friends are painting over right now——”
“They’ll sell it tomorrow for a few dollars,” interpolated Dora.