“Now he is worrying again,” she thought. “It seems that I can not have any sense!”
The new car sped along the Dixie highway from Miami in fine shape. Maurice drove for Mr. Sterling and Ann sat by him, at his suggestion. They drove into Wyldewood to look at the “two million dollar” banyan tree and other things; but that did not take long. It seemed a short ride, compared to those which they had been taking, when they crossed the bridge at Fort Lauderdale and turned down the street by the river, where they saw the pennants of the Bentley yacht.
Mrs. Bentley saw them and beckoned from the yacht. A young fellow in sailor costume came to help them aboard. “Isn’t it great?” whispered Suzanne to Ann. “I did not know that they had so fine a yacht, nor one so big as this. It is a good thing the river is so deep, for these large boats.”
The wood seemed to be mahogany, shining and clean, as everything was, indeed. On the deck there were comfortable seats, mostly wicker furniture. It was the first time that Ann had ever been on a yacht, an occasion to be remembered.
“I am all alone,” said Mrs. Bentley, when her guests were seated on deck. “My men all went deep sea fishing this morning. Ron promised to bring me a whale and Jack said that he might catch a shark. Mr. Bentley made no promises.”
Ann wondered if this were fun or earnest, probably fun, she thought. Whaling, she knew, was an undertaking by itself. But she did not pretend to know what they did catch in “deep sea fishing,” so kept still and listened.
“They thought that you would not get here so early, though I really expected them before this.”
“You are ready, are you, to undertake the addition to your family?” Mr. Sterling asked.
“Indeed I am. We have all been anticipating the fun. I wish that you and Mrs. Sterling might join us, too.”