Five dollars more! That meant a lot to Nicky, and he undertook to fold the precious bill so carefully that Cara wondered where he was going to put it. She watched. The others were all talking again, and Nicky noticed her interest.
“See?” he said, taking from his magic pocket, that never leaked in spite of his tatters, a carved peach pit. “I did that,” he admitted shyly, opening the pit and placing the finely folded bill in the center.
“And I’m just telling sister about your sampler,” piped up Miss Isabel to Babs. “And how it brought about our relationship. Isn’t this too wonderful,” she impulsively threw her arms around Babs, “to have cousins! We are going to be cousins——”
“Sampler cousins,” joked Babs, who was almost as dazed as was Miss Isabel. But she had never for a moment lost faith in Nicky, so the establishment of his honesty did not at all surprise her. The idea of the twins stealing their own boat model! That was funny!
“And just wait until you see mine,” she told the ladies. “You won’t be the only ones in our family,” she stressed the pronoun, “with a model of Columbus’ ship. Our artists are making me one.”
“And I’ll have them make me the Pinta,” declared Cara. “You know, the companion ship to the Santa Maria.”
“And maybe we can complete the fleet by getting me the Nina,” joined in Dr. Hale, laughing heartily.
“The Santa Maria!” said the twins.
“The Nina,” said Dr. Hale.
“And the Pinta,” finished Cara.