"But here is Walter back. How quickly he got around! Looks as if Walter is very keen on time—this time," and the tooting of the auto horn outside drew them to the door.
"Walter's privilege," whispered Cora, just as Miss Robbins hurried to the steps.
"Isn't this splendid," said the stranger, with polite gratitude.
"One would not mind getting shipwrecked often for an auto ride. And such an evening! or night, I suppose it is now."
"I'll go along," said Cora, realizing that she ought to do so.
"Me, too," said Jack, thinking he should go with Cora.
Bess and Belle would then be alone with Ed. Of course, Nettie was about, and they might sit on the porch until the others returned. Jack jumped in with Walter, while Cora and Miss Robbins took the second seat. The car was not Walter's runabout, but a larger machine from the garage.
"I'll have to come down in the morning for my boat," said Miss Robbins. "We've been living on soft clams lately, and I have to go out quite a way to dig them."
"Do you dig them?" asked Cora.
"Of course, why not? It is muddy and dirty, but it's lots cheaper than buying them, and then we are sure they are fresh."