With face still hid on Joy's bosom, the girl shuffled her feet, then turned upon the old man and playfully intoned:
"I'm not a child!"
"Ramsey!" said the mother, and "Missie!" said the nurse.
"Hugh," said the captain, "suppose you take Miss Ramsey up to the pilot-house and show her the——"
The girl laid a hand on his arm. "Do you want to tell mom-a something you don't want me to hear?"
"Why—" began the captain, and laughed. "On second thought, no. I want to tell your mother and the commodore something before any one else can, and before I tell any one else; but you may hear it if——"
"If I won't get frightened. Has anything happened to the boat?"
"Ramsey!" "Missie!" lamented matron and servant again.
"Mother," with much dignity pleaded the twins.
"Oh, no," said the captain, "not to the boat."