“All three of you, of course,” echoed their father, in tones loud enough to have been heard at sea. “We want all of you, especially little Miss Weezy.”
Weezy darted into the house, about the happiest little girl in California, shouting,—
“He did ’vite me, mamma! Captain Bradstreet did ’vite me. He ’vited me officially! Oh! please may I go?”
“We’ll see, dear,” answered her mother, with a smile that meant “yes”; “we’ll see how kind and polite you are to Harry for the rest of his stay.”
Mrs. Rowe had suspected all along that the good captain had intended to include Weezy in the invitation, but had forgotten to mention the child by name. Grown people are careless sometimes, and forget that little children have been slighted. The children themselves do not forget—ah, no!
Harry remained at Santa Luzia one week longer, and the members of the family vied with one another in making him happy. Mr. Rowe bought him a new suit, which delighted Molly as much as it did Harry; Kirke caught horned toads, and dug up trap-door spiders’ nests for the lad’s amusement; while little Miss Weezy loaded him with shells and sand-dollars till his new pockets were in danger of bursting. By the end of his fortnight at The Old and New they had all grown fond of the frank little fellow, as we are apt to grow fond of those whom we try to make happy. When he was put on the train in care of the conductor, Weezy cried, and even Molly looked tearful.
“We shall miss the little scamp, Molly,” said Kirke, as they walked home from the station; “but I must confess I’m tired of playing watch-dog for him.”
“Yes, so am I, Kirke,” Molly drew a long breath; “I’m glad we asked him to come, though. Mamma thinks the visit has helped him ever so much.”
“Does she? Well, I’m glad. But do you know, Molly, this morning I was afraid it would rain, and the kid would have to stay over? If he had stayed, it would have bothered us to-morrow about going to the camp.”
Kirke blew off some of his surplus energy in a prolonged whistle, the near prospect of this much desired outing being very exciting.