“Probably thinking of his car when he drove it into a tree,” remarked Jack flippantly.
If he had not been hardened, he would have succumbed before the exasperated glare of three pairs of girlish eyes.
“Better get in out of the wet, Jack,” counseled Paul.
“Come over here and I’ll protect you with my life,” adjured Walter.
“Don’t pay any attention to those idiots, girls,” advised Cora. “We’ll wait until we get by ourselves and can talk sense without being interrupted.”
The Water Sprite, as though repenting of its lapses that afternoon, was now on its good behavior, and she kept “dry as a bone” on the short passage from the island.
They found Mrs. King a little worried at their late coming, and she threw up her hands at the story of their narrow escape from sinking.
“You’ve had a lively brood wished on you, Aunt Betty,” laughed Cora, as she threw her arm affectionately around her aunt’s waist.
“I can see that already,” was the reply. “My only comfort is that you girls seem to bear a charmed life.”
“Call it ‘charming,’” said Walter gallantly, “and we boys will agree with you.”