The Gypsies had not dared follow the party. Soon the stage came along, and for ten cents each the girls rode into Pleasant Cove. There were only a few other passengers, and the party from Milton sat on top and had a lot of fun.
Pearl pointed out the byroad that led down to the river beach where the tent colony was set up, but the stage went right past Spoondrift bungalow, and the girls got down and charged that dwelling like a horde of Huns, Agnes declared.
Uncle Phillip Harrod was at home, and welcomed them kindly. Help yourselves, girls, and go as far as you like, he said, waving both hands, and retired to a corner of the piazza with his book and a pipe.
The girls took him at his word. They were very busy till nightfall. Then, however, everything was ready for their occupancy of the bungalow, and supper was cooking on the kerosene range.
They had forgotten the Gypsies
all but Ruth. She was bound to be puzzled by the disguised queen and wondered secretly what the masquerade meant, and who the beautiful girl was who posed as Zaliska?
CHAPTER X SOME EXCITEMENT
whySpoondrift is the spray from the tops of the waves, explained Pearl. We think the name is awfully pretty.
And so is the bungalow and the Cove, sighed Ruth.
And were going to have a scrumptious time here! declared Agnes.
Tess and Dot were frankly sleepy, and Lucy begged the privilege of seeing them to bed.
Thats real kind of you, Im sure, Lute, said Agnes.
Dont you praise her, sniffed Carrie. I know Lute. Shes sleepy, herself. You wont see her downstairs again to-night.
I dont care, yawned Lucy Poole, following Tess and Dot. I sleep so slowly that it takes a long time for me to get a good nights rest.
Well! of all things! ejaculated Carrie, as her cousin departed, following the two smaller girls. What do you know about that ?
Almost as stupid as the inhabitants of London, chuckled Agnes.
What do you mean by that, Ag? demanded Ann Presby. The people of London arent any more stupid than those of other cities, are they?
I dont know, returned Agnes; but the book says the population of London is very dense.
Fine! fine! cried Carrie Poole, laughing. Oh! these literal folk. You know, my Grandfather Poole has an awfully bald head. He was telling us once that in some famous battle of the Civil War in which he took part, his head was grazed by a bullet. My little brother Jimmy stared at his head thoughtfully for a minute, and then he said:
My, Grandpa, theres not much grazing up there now, is there?
These stories began the evening. Everybody had some story or joke to relate, and finally the girls began to guess riddles. Somebody propounded the old one about the wind: What is it that goes all around the house and yet makes no tracks? and Agnes had a new answer for it:
Germs! she shouted. You know, Miss Georgiana gave us a lecture about them, and I bet were just surrounded by deadly bacilli right now.
Those arent germs theyre mosquitos, Ag! laughed Pearl, slapping vigorously at one of the pests. Pleasant Cove isnt entirely free from them.
And they are presenting their bills pretty lively, too, yawned Ruth. The bedrooms are screened. I believe wed all better seek the haven of bed unless we want to be splotchy to-morrow from mosquito bites.
In the morning the older girls divided the housework between them, and so got it all done in short order. The baggage had come up from the station the evening before, and they unpacked.
Then they set forth to explore the fishing port, as well as the more modern part of Pleasant Cove.
As they brisked along the walk past Mr. Terrence Severns Overlook House, they spied Trix and her party on the big veranda. The girls hailed each other back and forth; only Trix and the Corner House girls did not speak.
We cant speak to her if she wont speak to us, said Ruth to Agnes. Now, never you mind, Aggie. Shell get over her tantrum in time.
The party from Spoondrift bungalow got back in season to get luncheon; after which they rested and then bathed. It was the Corner House girls first experience of salt water bathing and they all enjoyed it even Dot.
It does make you suck in your breath awfully hard when the waves lap upon you, she confessed. But there was the Alice-doll sitting on the shore watching me, and so I couldnt let her see that I was afraid !
Ruth, more than the other girls, aided Pearl in looking after housekeeping affairs. It was she who discovered the broken lamp in the front hall.
The bungalow was lighted by oil-lamps, and they used candles in the bed chambers; while there was a marvelous blue-flame kerosene range in the kitchen.
Not all of the girls understood the handling of kerosene lamps, and Pearl told a funny story about her own little sister who had never seen any lights but gas or electric.
When she came down here to Uncle Phils bungalow for the first time, she was all excited about the lamps. She told mamma that Uncle Phil had his lectricity in a lamp right on the supper table. Its a queer kind of a light, for they fill it with water out of a can.