“Aye, aye, sir,” said Kate, saluting with uplifted finger. “Seems to me, though, if I am to be a ship’s husband to a yacht club, I’ll be a Mormon, won’t I?”
As the laughter subsided, Polly went on.
“So if you look after that part of the club, and I take care of the general business, Ruth ought to be in charge of the bureau of knowledge.”
“Polly,” exclaimed Sue. “Do talk so we’ll understand you.”
“I am,” answered Polly, emphatically. “If we go to the seashore, we shall do something besides sail boats, and lie in the sand, shan’t we? We’ll study shells and seaweeds, and swim, and fish, and all that sort of thing. Ruth is the only one among us who has studied up and knows about such things, and she could take charge of all that part of the vacation, show us how to make collections, and preserve them, and so on.” Polly hesitated. Out on the veranda, behind the honeysuckle vines and creepers, dozed the Admiral, with Tan at his feet. Polly wondered whether he had heard the discussion, and if he had, why he didn’t come to the rescue. He always did when there was rough weather or any breakers ahead.
“Would you go, Ruth, if you could?”
Ruth weakened. Polly’s eyes were eloquent, and her tone persuasive.
“I should be very glad to, Polly,” she replied quickly. “It’s splendid of you girls to want me—”
“We couldn’t get along without you, Grandma,” laughed Ted and Sue together. “Will you surely go?”
“Well,” promised Ruth. “I will go if I can, and maybe I won’t be glad to.”