It was Walter who mis-quoted this couplet.
“Oh, boys, please do be quiet!” begged Cora. “We will never get anything done if you don’t!”
“It strikes me we got considerable done a short time ago, when we put that fire out,” remarked Jack. Cora looked sharply at him.
“I’ll be good, Sis–don’t shoot–I’m coming down,” he exclaimed, and he “slumped” at Eline’s feet and made a fruitless endeavor to hold her slim, pretty hand.
“Stop!” she commanded with a blush.
“That’s my privilege!” called Ed, as he made a quick move, but the visitor from the Windy City escaped by getting behind Bess, who was in the Roman chair.
“If you don’t—” began Cora determinedly, and then she changed her tone. “Please—” she pleaded.
“After that–nothing but silence!” came from Walter. “Go easy, boys!”
Silence did reign–or, considering the shower, might one not say “rain” for a moment? Cora resumed.
“We are to start as early in the morning as possible,” she said. “I figured–or rather Jack and Ed did–that the trip to Sandy Point Cove would take about three days–perhaps four if–if anything happened like tire trouble. But we are in no hurry, and we can spend five days on the road if we like.