Uncle Hiram had come up to the house before noon because he wanted to drive to Gardner as soon as dinner was over and, he explained he could get ready to go before dinner.
“I could ship two passengers,” he announced, a twinkle in his eye.
“That means we can go, Doris!” cried Elizabeth Ann joyfully.
“Does it?” Doris, who had just woke up from her nap, and was still a bit sleepy, inquired doubtfully.
“Of course you may go,” said Aunt Grace, who had found time to cook a marvelous dinner—with peach shortcake for dessert—informed them. “Uncle Hiram just loves to have company with him when he drives to Gardner.”
Aunt Grace wouldn’t hear of them waiting to help her with the dishes—she said there were not many, and she was used to doing them alone—and when Elizabeth Ann and Doris went outdoors to get into the car, they found Tony sitting on the front doorstep, washing his face as though he had always lived in the “Bonnie Susie.”
“Isn’t it nice to live in a house like that!” exclaimed Elizabeth Ann proudly, looking back to wave to Aunt Grace as they drove away.
“Pretty good ship, if I do say it myself,” Uncle Hiram agreed proudly.
And all the way to town he told Elizabeth Ann and Doris stories of what had happened to him while he was at sea.
“I can feel the way the hammocks used to sway in a storm, even now,” he said. “I still sleep in a hammock, but your Aunt Grace couldn’t get used to one; she had to have a bunk.”