Of course, Neale O’Neil and Agnes Kenway could not be “mad at” each other for long. But they did frequently have spats, for both were hot-tempered and willful.
The boy, however, was usually so good-natured that he overlooked a lot that Agnes said to him when she was ruffled. On this occasion, however, he enjoyed keeping certain facts secret and letting Agnes fuss and fume. And as Neale continued to be Miss Hastings’ right-hand man in the preparations for the concert, Agnes existed in a state of suppressed fury.
The glorious weather the party enjoyed while sailing southward made it difficult for Agnes to hold to her grouch.
It was surprising, too, what a number of things there were to see while the steamship ploughed southward. One day a half-grown whale kept pace with the Horridole for hours, just as though he enjoyed racing with steam. One of the ship’s officers had been on several whaling voyages as a young man, and he related to the Kenways and Neale some exciting experiences he had had when chasing the great mammals.
A school of porpoises likewise gamboled about the ship, sometimes ahead, sometimes following, their changing colors bringing wondering cries to the lips of Tess and Dot. Circling seabirds flew high above them, for, after all, the route the steamship followed to the West Indies was never far from shore.
The evening before they expected to reach St. Sergius was appointed for the concert. Great secrecy had been maintained regarding the identity of the entertainers secured for it. There was part of an opera company going to St. Sergius for the winter season, and that had been drawn on for an augmented orchestra, the ship boasting a pretty good string band in any event.
But besides this help from the second and first cabin, nobody else had been asked to entertain among the cabin passengers. Save, of course, Tess and Dot Kenway. Ruth was a little anxious as to what the little girls were going to do; but knowing that they had committed to memory many songs and recitations, she did not doubt but that they would acquit themselves well.
Nalbro Hastings had taken a good deal of interest in the charity entertainment; but when the hour arrived for it she did not appear on the platform to announce the numbers. To Agnes Kenway’s expressed amazement Neale represented Miss Hastings—and he was not even a member of the committee!
Her boy friend, however, acquitted himself nobly. Agnes was forced to admit it and she was, secretly, pleased that this was so. But she did her best not to show it.
Of course, there could not be much dignity attached to any occasion in which Neale O’Neil was active. He began “jollying” when he introduced the first entertainer.