“It was dropping fast this morning. The current’s not so strong now either. Let’s get up bright and early.”
“How early?” Louise asked dubiously.
“Oh, about seven o’clock.”
“That’s practically the middle of the night,” Louise complained.
“I’ll come by for you at a quarter to seven,” Penny said, as if the matter were settled. “Wear warm clothes and don’t you dare keep me waiting.”
The next morning heavy mists shrouded Riverview’s valleys and waterfront. Undaunted by the dismal prospect, Penny proceeded in darkness to the Sidell home. There, huddling against the gate post, she whistled several times, and finally tossed a pebble against the window of Louise’s room. A moment later the sash went up.
“Oh, is it you, Penny?” her chum mumbled in a sleepy voice. “You surely don’t expect to go sailing on a morning like this!”
“The fog will clear away just as soon as the sun gets up. Hurry and climb into your clothes, lazy bones!”
With a groan, Louise slammed down the window. Ten minutes later she appeared, walking awkwardly because she wore two pair of slack suits and three sweaters.
“Think we’ll freeze?” she inquired anxiously.