“You must thank Captain Ed, too—he helped a lot!” said truthful and loyal Billy.
“Indeed I do, and he knows it! And for all his care of you,” said his mother, taking Captain Ed’s hand in hers.
At the earnest words of appreciation the Captain’s memory reviewed recent events—piracy and posse were hardly to be considered as acts of care-taking, and the conscientious Captain’s sense of justice rebuked him in accepting the gratitude.
“Oh, well,” thought he to himself, “‘all’s well that ends well’ and no one got in trouble!”
Elizabeth and Edith had accompanied their mother home and were glad to be back on their dear old island, although they had enjoyed their visit immensely.
The morning following Mrs. Remington’s return, Elizabeth said, “Mother, we want our annual clam-bake and it can’t be postponed much longer ’cause Trixie is going back home!”
“Well, Uncle Tom is coming over to-day to give the boys another lesson in target-shooting and we will give him the invitation to carry to the Cove people, and we can tell the Isola Bella family about it when we go there to dinner to-night!”
“Gee! I’m glad we got those lobsters of ours back again!” murmured Billy.
During the next few days every one worked hard to have this clam-bake surpass those of former years. Clams were dug, fish were caught, the Captain’s broilers were requisitioned, while Rosemary and Isola Bella promised to supply the ice-cream and cakes.
The day before the fête Elizabeth was brooding deeply while assisting her mother with candy-making. Suddenly, she said, “Oh, dear! I do wish father could be with us to-morrow!”