“Hello!” he exclaimed. “What's this—the mail?”
Bos'n smiled delightedly.
“Yes, sir,” she replied. “I knew you was at the meeting and so I brought it from the office. Ain't you glad?”
“Sure! Yes, indeed! Much obliged. Tryin' to keep house without you would be like steerin' without a rudder.”
Even as he said it there came to him the realization that he might have to steer without that rudder in the near future. His smile vanished. He smothered a groan and picked up the mail.
“Hum!” he mused, “the Breeze, a circular, and one letter. Hello! it isn't possible that—Well! well!”
The letter was in a long envelope. He hastily tore it open. At the inclosure he glanced in evident excitement. Then his smile returned.
“Bos'n,” he said, after a moment's reflection, “I guess you and me won't have to go to Ostable after all.” Noticing the child's look of disappointment, he added: “But you needn't go to school. Maybe you'd better not. You and me'll take a tramp alongshore. What do you say?”
“Oh, yes, Uncle Cy! Let's—shall we?”
“Why, I don't see why not. We'll cruise in company as long as we can, hey, little girl? The squall's likely to strike afore night,” he muttered half aloud. “We'll enjoy the fine weather till it's time to shorten sail.”