“Never mind him, you know he is only teasing you,” said Fred, soothingly. “But Uncle Bill, Miriam is going back with us as she has to make out her coup claim properly and she is going to help us prepare for the Council. Please, everybody come! We just count on you, Uncle Bill, to liven everything up, you know.”
“Depend upon your Uncle Bill! Now, young ’uns—lively about it, if you’re going! I’m about starved and nothing will keep me here a minute longer. If I don’t show up at the house pretty soon, Bridget will think I’ve had luncheon, and what a calamity that would be! See you all later—three o’clock sharp!” And Uncle Bill caught up his suitcase, jumped out on the wharf, and called to his wife: “I’m starved! I’m starved! Fee fo fi fum!”
Meantime Mrs. Farwell had been talking confidentially to Elizabeth and Miriam. Then, as she laughed and promised them to keep the secret, they left her. She watched them climb safely down to the dory again before she turned to give some orders to the Captain of the Zeus, finally turning to follow her shouting and singing lord and master up the path to the house.
The two girls pushed off from the launch, Fred let the sheet run out and before a light southerly breeze, the little dory soon showed her heels to the wharf at one island and in about ten minutes was lying at the float-stage of the other.
While Fred furled the sails of the dory, Billy ran down the cliffs to meet the sailors. “Say there! You’d just better hurry up! Lunch is most ready!”
Quiet reigned during the first part of the luncheon as every one was hungry. But as appetites abated, Billy started a discussion as to some of the entertainment for the Council in the afternoon. It appeared that he and Dudley and Paul had a motion picture play of a jitney which they were anxious to give.
“Have you rehearsed it—do you know if it is any good?” asked Fred, sceptically.
“You know we don’t want anything below par,” added Elizabeth.
“Well, if you doubt us, we’ll do it right here to let you judge!” offered Paul, eagerly.
“Guess you’d better,” replied Fred.