“Oh, they’ll be almost old by that time,” declared the younger girl sadly. “And I did so want to wear ’em where Nalbro Hastings and those other girls could see that we weren’t frumps, even if we did come from Milton.”
“I never!” exclaimed Ruth, laughing. “You are the strangest girl, Aggie.”
“Ought not to be strange to you, Ruthie. You’ve known me all my life,” remarked the flyaway sister, smiling. “And I did want to sport my new frocks!”
“So you shall,” said Ruth, comfortingly. “I don’t think we shall have to remain on Palm Island much longer. Luke tells me he is sure that the engine will be all right soon. He knows a good deal about such things.”
“Oh, Ruth!” exclaimed Agnes suddenly, “there’s a boat coming to rescue us now!”
They were about half way up the slope of the hill. Agnes had turned to look back, and right over the lower trees and the rocky end of the island a craft of some kind was visible. Ruth, quite as excited as her sister, turned sharply to look in the direction Agnes pointed.
“From that way?” she murmured. “St. Sergius isn’t over there, Aggie.”
“I don’t care. You can see the boat, can’t you?” cried Agnes eagerly. “Hurrah! I want to tell Neale. I saw the boat first.”
“Wait!” commanded Ruth, seizing the excited girl’s arm. “That boat is not coming this way, I am afraid.”
“It’s never got past the island without our seeing it!” wailed Agnes. “Never!”