"You did now? That's fine!" he answered heartily. "I wish you could see her once in a while. She needs the right sort of friends. What's a girl to do when every other girl in the village shuns her?"
"We would all be very glad to talk to her and make real friends with her," insisted Helen.
"I'm sure you would, for you're girls brought up to be kind and friendly," said Captain Dave. "I've heard how you befriended old Peter."
"Oh, that wasn't anything," Julia interrupted. "We only took him in from the storm."
"Queer thing none of our firemen happened to see him! And old Pete out there fishin'! Why, he was so stunned, Kitty told me next day he couldn't move," said Captain Dave.
"We thought we would have lots wilder experiences down here than just driving nice old men home, Captain," complained Grace.
"Aren't you ever going to let us try your breeches buoy?"
"Try it? What would you do with a breeches buoy?" he asked.
"Have a lovely ride in it, wouldn't we?" said Grace.
"I hope not," replied the captain seriously. "That's not a thing to play with."