CHAPTER III
MISS ELOISE
It was quite a different looking country from that they had left whichDorothy and Edna now drove through. Instead of rolling meadows, hillsand dales, were long stretches of salt marsh, sand dunes and beyond allthe great expanse of ocean. An avenue of trees led up to the Ramsey'shome, and there was a broad lawn in front, but on the east side was apretty beach, a view of the harbor and the sparkling water. "Isn't itbeautiful?" whispered Edna to Dorothy as the two followed Jennie up thesteps to where Mrs. Ramsey stood on the porch to meet them.
"Fine," returned Jennie.
She had time to say no more than this, for here was Mrs. Ramsey askinghow they had stood the journey, and how they had left all at home,so their attention must be given to answering questions and not todiscussing what they saw around them.
Mr. Ramsey had already arrived, the motor-car having far outdonethe little pony, and he was now talking to two ladies who sat at thefurther end of the porch. They were hidden by his figure so the littlenewly-arrived guests did not recognize them then.
"Take the little girls up to their room, Jennie," directed Mrs. Ramsey."You will all have time for a nice dip in the sea before lunch time."
This was a very exciting prospect, for neither of the two had ever gonethrough the experience of sea-bathing.
"We have new bathing-suits," they told Jennie with pride.
"But they are in our trunks," suddenly exclaimed Dorothy, "and thosehaven't come yet."
"Never mind," replied Jennie, "I have two or three, so we need notwait."
However, the trunks did arrive before they had need to borrow, andthe bathing-suits were easily found and hastily put on amidst muchgiggling and many exclamations, for it was such a new excitement itwas impossible to do anything soberly. Then Jennie led the way downthe back stairs and over a path at the rear of the house to the littlestretch of beach. With many little squeals of apprehension, the twowho lacked experience, ventured to the edge of the water, but Jenniedashed in, letting the waves completely cover her, and with such anexample the other two soon became braver and began to enjoy themselveshugely. Indeed they were fain to remain longer than they should, but atlast a maid came to say they must not stay in a moment longer as it wasnearing time for lunch.
"I think it is perfectly lovely," said Edna as, with the water drippingdown her bare legs, she entered the little bath house where theyexchanged their wet suits for dry clothing which the maid had broughtdown. "Do you go in every day, Jennie?"
"Just about," she replied.
"Even when it rains?"
"Oh, no, not then, unless it is a very gentle rain and it is not toocold."
Edna gave a sigh of satisfaction. "And what do you do in theafternoons?"
"Oh, anything I please. Sometimes I take the pony and drive up to therocks, and sometimes I just stay around the house or the grounds. Whatshould you like to do? Would you like to go to the village?"
"Why, I don't know." Edna looked at Dorothy. "I'd like to do whateveryou two would like."
"That's just like you," said Jennie. "You always want to have otherpeople have a good time whether you do or not. We don't forget aboutClara Adams, do we, Dorothy?"
"Oh, that wasn't anything," returned Edna. "Besides, I had the veryfinest sort of a time."
"Well, we can decide after lunch what we would like to do," Jennie wenton, "but now I daresay you are as hungry as hunters; I know I am."
"Who were the two ladies sitting on the porch?" asked Dorothy.
"Oh, didn't you know?" said Jennie in a tone of surprise. "Then I won'ttell, and you can find out when we go in. I know you will be awfullypleased."
The mystery of this made the other two hurry with their dressing, butthey were none too early as they found when they reached the house,for the rest were already seated at table. To the surprise of boththe visitors the two ladies were well known to them for one was theirteacher, Miss Newman, and the other was her invalid sister, MissEloise.
"Oh, isn't this lovely?" cried the latter. "We knew you were coming,but you didn't know we were here, did you?"
"Indeed we did not," replied Edna. "How did you get here, Miss Eloise?"
"We came all the way by boat, and I did enjoy it so much. I'll tell youall about it after lunch."
"And if you are as hungry as I am," said Mr. Ramsey, "you will be gladto give your undivided attention to this clam-chowder first thing. Weall know how entertaining Miss Eloise's tales can be, so you'd bettersave them for dessert."
The luncheon was so good that the children did not need a secondbidding, and were surprised to find how hungry they were till theyremembered that they had not eaten anything since their none too heartybreakfast. It was certainly delightful to be there in the cool spacioushouse with the noise of the sea ever in their ears and the cool breezecoming in the windows, and the newcomers felt that all this accountedfor the better color in Miss Eloise's cheeks and for the brighter lookin her eyes.
They all gathered around her on the porch after lunch and she told themabout her coming.
"You see it was this way," she began. "It was so stifling in the citythat I was perfectly exhausted by the heat and the doctor told mysister I must get away if possible, but neither of us could see whereor how, and poor sister was so worried she didn't know what to do. Thenall of a sudden, just as if she knew all about our difficulties, camea letter from Mrs. Ramsey asking us to come up here, and arranging itall so nicely that there seemed no reason in the world why I could notmake the journey comfortably. So we decided that we would try it. Mr.Ramsey sent the automobile that took us to the wharf and we came allthe way by boat to Boston where Mrs. Ramsey met us, and from therewe took another boat which brought us to the wharf here. Sister wasso afraid I would be seasick, but I was not, in fact it was the mostglorious trip I ever had, and we can go back the same way. It is allso wonderful that I haven't recovered from the wonder of it yet. I amso much stronger that I can walk about a very little, and don't have tosit in a rolling chair all day."
All this did seem very wonderful to the little girls who had beenaccustomed to seeing Miss Eloise always in an invalid's chair wheeledfrom room to room. "Do you think you will be able to walk more andmore?" asked Edna interestedly.
"The doctor--Mrs. Ramsey's doctor--thinks I may be able to as I getstronger. He has encouraged me so much that I begin to think anythingpossible."
All this was very pleasant news, but here Miss Newman interfered bysaying, "Ellie, darling, you know you must not overtax your strengthand now you must be taking a rest. The salt baths are doing her a worldof good," she turned to the children to say, "but we must not go beyondher strength." So she bore off Miss Eloise and the little girls wereleft to themselves.
There were so many pleasures in sight that they found it hard tochoose, but finally it was decided among them that each should take herturn in making plans for the afternoons, and that they would draw lotsfor first choice. This they did with three slips of paper. Dorothy drewthe longest, therefore to her fell the choice for that day. Jennie drewthe second longest and she was to take the next day. As Edna's was theshortest she came last and after that it was easy enough, for they wereto keep it up in this order.
After much discussion, Dorothy decided that the very nicest and mostunusual thing to do would be to go out in a boat for a row.
"I think that will be perfectly lovely," declared Edna, who had beenwavering in her own mind between a preference for the water and a drivebehind the little pony.
"I'm sure I shall like it," Jennie said, "and we shall have a goodtime, I know. Mother always lets me go when we can get old Cap'n Si totake us, for he is perfectly safe and is such a funny old fellow.
"Who is he?" asked the others.
"He is an old fisherman who used to have a fishing vessel of his own,but now he is too old to go to the Banks, so he just fishes around alittle, and takes people out rowing or sailing when they don't want togo too far. He lives in that little old house
over on that point."
Dorothy and Edna looked to where she indicated and saw a little lowbrown house very near the water. They could distinguish someone sittingin the doorway.
"What is he doing?" asked Dorothy.
"He is mending his nets."
"How will he know we want him? Do we have to go over and tell him?"
"No, I will tell you how we manage. Come with me."
The two followed her to the bath-house, one side of which was used asa boat-house. From a nail inside the door Jennie took down a tin horn,which she blew lustily, then looked intently in the direction of Cap'nSi's house. "He hasn't heard," she said presently, and blew anotherblast. At this Cap'n Si shaded his eyes, and then waved his hand.
"He hears," said Jennie. "Now I must let him know the time." She wentto where a flag-pole displayed a blue and white pennant. This sheraised and lowered three times. "Now he will know that he is to come atthree o'clock," she told the others.
Cap'n Si evidently understood, for he waved his hand three times.
"I think that is a fine way to let him know," said Edna. "How did youever think of it?"
"Oh, I didn't think of it, Cap'n Si did. He always sits out there onthat bench pleasant afternoons, and he told me just how I could lethim know when I wanted him. I think I will get him to take us to ShellyBeach; it is such a nice place."
"Are there really shells there?"
"Oh, yes, ever so many, and some of them are so pretty, tiny littlepinky ones."
This sounded so fascinating that Edna declared that if it had been herafternoon to choose she could have selected nothing more to her mindthan this expedition.
"We must go tell mother where we are going," said Jennie, "so she won'tbe anxious."
Mrs. Ramsey was in the library at a desk writing letters. She lookedup as the children came in. "I am just sending a line to your mothers,dearies," she said to Edna and Dorothy. "I thought they would beanxious to know of your safe arrival. What is on hand for thisafternoon?"
"We are going to get Cap'n Si to take us to Shelly Beach," Jennie toldher.
"Then be sure to take some warm wraps and be back before six."
"Oh, you know Cap'n Si never keeps us out late."
"No, I realize that he can be relied upon. I think that will be a verynice expedition for you. Would you like to take along some biscuits orsomething? You can ask Emma to give you something of that kind if youlike."
"Could we have some hard-boiled eggs, too?"
"If there is time to boil them. Let me see. Oh, yes, it is only halfpast two. Well, run along and make your preparations. Have a goodtime."
"Isn't she dear?" said Dorothy, when they were out of the room. "Doesshe always let you have anything you want, like that?"
"Oh, yes, generally. If she doesn't it is because there is some goodreason why I shouldn't. I will take some extra salt and maybe Cap'nSi will get some fish and cook them for us on hot stones. He does thatsometimes, and they do taste so good. I'll get Emma to pack everythingin a little basket."
"Where do we go to get in the boat?" asked Edna. "Do we have to go tothe steamboat wharf?"
"No, indeed, he will come right to our little landing there beyond theboat-house."
This all seemed most convenient, and what with watching Emma pack thebasket and with hunting up wraps the time went very rapidly and theywere surprised to hear Mrs. Ramsey call to them, "Come along, children.Here comes Cap'n Si."
Although the sun was hot it did not seem so intolerable as it did athome, for here was the cool sea-breeze always blowing, and even the wayto the beach did not seem an uncomfortable walk. Cap'n Si, a grizzly,toothless old man with a pleasant smile and twinkling blue eyes hadalready drawn his boat up on the sands when they reached him. He gave aquick nod of greeting as the three came up.
"These are my friends Dorothy Evans and Edna Conway," said Jennie.
Cap'n Si jerked his head to each one. "Glad to see ye," he said. "Wherebe ye going, Jinny?"
"We thought we would like to go to Shelly Beach. It isn't too far, isit?"
"No, 'm, 'tain't. Good weather, too. Hot down your way?" He turned toEdna to ask.
"It has been scorching hot," she told him, "but it wasn't quite sodreadful when we came away."
"Ever been to these parts before?"
"No, and we never saw the ocean, not the real ocean till now."
Cap'n Si looked at her as if she were a strange species of animal."Wal, I swan," he ejaculated. "Ain't it queer how folks kin live 'slongas that and not see the ocean," he said, turning to Jennie.
"I guess I'd die ef you was to take me out of sight and sound of thewater. Lived right here all my life." He turned to Edna again. "Bornin that there little house, and ain't never lived nowhere else, lessyou call it living on board a fishing vessel. I've seen a good bit oftowns and been to considerable many ports, but I ain't seen nawthin'I'd swop this place fur." He took the basket and stowed it safely away,gave directions about their getting in the boat, shoved it off andcame aboard himself without seeming to mind the fact that he had walkedthrough two feet of water.
Edna and Dorothy thought him a most interesting person with his redface, his white tuft of beard under his chin and his great knottyhands. He had a fund of stories to tell them about the sea and thecreatures that lived in it, and he used so many queer expressions thatthey thought him very amusing and determined to remember all his funnysayings that they might tell the boys when they returned home.
They reached Shelly Beach in about half an hour, and found it a verysurprising place, for here were not only shells but seaweeds andpretty pebbles. Just beyond the beach was a small grove where theydecided they would have their little picnic after they had satisfiedtheir desire for shells and pebbles. In the meantime Cap'n Si went offpromising to return in a little while.
"I say we gather some of these seaweeds for Miss Eloise," said Edna.
"I am going to take some home to Agnes," declared Dorothy.
"Then I'll take some to Celia, but there is plenty for everyone, so weneedn't be afraid that anyone will have to be left out. I think I shallgather some shells for Uncle Justus." This from Edna.
"Why, Edna, do you think he will care for them?"
"Of course he will. He likes those Captain Doane has very much. Ihaven't found any of the tiny pink ones yet, have you, Jennie?"
"Not yet, but I think we shall find some further along."
"Then let's go further along."
This they did and to their delight found some of the delicate littleshells they were so anxious for. They were still absorbed in theirsearch for these when Cap'n Si returned.
"Oh, see what he has," cried Jennie.
"What," asked Edna, turning her head to look.
"A string of fish. I wonder if he got them for us and if he is going tocook them."
They soon found that this was what Cap'n Si intended to do, for hebegan to gather driftwood for a fire, and while the stones were heatinghe cleaned the fish, which he finally set to cook on the heated stones.
"After all, I think we'd better have our picnic on the beach," saidJennie, "for we won't want to carry fish so far. I'll go get the basketand we can spread it out, the picnic, I mean, on that big flat rock."
"I think that will be nicer than the woods," declared Dorothy, "forwe have had picnics in woods often, but we never had one on a beachbefore."
Jennie proceeded to open the basketful of supplies and the otherbustled about getting all things properly placed. They wondered howthey would be served with fish as there were no plates, but Cap'n Sisoon solved this difficulty by handing it around on clean pieces ofdriftwood.
"How good it does taste," said Dorothy. "I never did taste such goodfish. I think this is the finest kind of picnic. Don't you wish ourmothers could see us, Edna?"
"I don't see how I am able to eat so much?" remarked Edna. "I thought Iwas as hungry as I could be at lunch time and when it was over I didn'tfeel as if I ever wanted anything to eat again, but now I a
m just ashungry as if there had never been any lunch."
Cap'n Si laughed at this. "That's what the sea air does for folks," hesaid. "I guess you'll take a pound or two more home with you than youcome with."
Edna looked down at her chubby little self and came to the conclusionthat she would not care to take back too many more pounds, for shedidn't like her brothers to call her Butterball, as they were in thehabit of doing when they wanted to tease her. However, this did notprevent her from doing full justice to the biscuits and butter, thelittle cakes and the sweet chocolate with which they ended their meal.
Then Cap'n Si said it was about time they were starting back, so theydid not have time to explore the grove and had not gathered half theseaweeds they had intended to, though they were not so much disturbedat this lack because Jennie said, "Oh, well, don't bother, we can comehere any time, and there will be just as many things as there are now."
Edna turned this over in her mind for some time. It seemed a strangefact that in spite of the tide's forever washing away shells and weedsand pebbles, it forever washed in more to take the place of what hadbeen given again to the sea.
She smiled up into Cap'n Si's face as she clasped his horny hand whenthey were about to land. "I think it is all so beautiful," she said,"and I don't wonder you like it so much. Thank you for telling us aboutall those things. I hope you'll take us out again."
Cap'n Si gave an answering smile. "Any time you want to go, just h'istthe flag," he said. Then he rowed off in his boat across the shiningwaters.
"Oh, dear," said Edna with a sigh. "I am having such a lovely time Ihate the day to be over."
"But there's to-morrow," replied Jennie cheerfully.