“I have to take care of my Alice-doll,” declared Dot.
“And I have to help her,” said Tess.
“I’ll take a hand at fishing, if you don’t mind,” said Neale.
“And I wouldn’t mind trying myself,” added the lawyer. And when Hank’s sleeping quarters had been arranged the three men, though perhaps Neale could hardly be called that, sat together at the stern of the boat, their lines in the water.
“Mr. Howbridge is almost like a boy himself on this trip, isn’t he?” said Agnes to Ruth as the two sisters helped Mrs. MacCall make up the berths for the night.
“Yes, he is, and I’m glad of it. I wouldn’t know what to do if some grave, tiresome old man had charge of our affairs.”
“Well now, who is going to have first luck?” questioned Mr. Howbridge, jokingly, as the three sat down to try their hands at fishing.
“I guess the luck will go to the first one who gets a catch,” returned Neale.
“Luck goes to the one who gits the biggest fish,” put in the mule driver.
After that there was silence for a few minutes. Then the lawyer gave a cry of satisfaction.