Upon this Dick secured a biscuit and followed him, while Anne and the rest went out onto the porch.
“I trust, Margaret, those young men will not regale you and me with their society at lunch. What a wholesome thing it would be to have a man-smudge! I get no time to read. But you said Dorothy would be over to lunch. That is better. What fun it would be if the stolid, solid Boston man should turn up. I could enjoy the combination, I think.” Then she walked to the cliff-edge, smiling, for there was a battle imminent between the boys.
“I mean to paddle,” said Jack.
“No, I’ll pole.”
“Not with me in the canoe,” said Rose.
“I’m to paddle,” cried Dick.
“May I sit by you?” said Ned.
“You sha’n’t, if I can’t pole,” cried Dick. “You always want Rose.”
“You’re hard to please, boys.”
“I’m not; I’m soft to please,” said Ned.