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"I am," her niece told her, the gray eyes smiling again, for Louise was soon over her wrath. "Even daddy-prof says that." "Because of his taking you all over the world with him as he did. I only wonder he did not insist upon your going on this present horrid cruise. "No. I have begun to like my comfort too well," and now Louise laughed outright. "A mark of oncoming age, perhaps."
Louise had hoped to escape all that for the summer by fleeing to Cap'n Abe's store at Cardhaven. Lawford Tapp was in a financial situation to spend his time in the improvement of his body and mind without regard to money considerations. Louise foresaw that they were going to have a delightful time together along the shore here, until daddy-prof came home in the fall. And then
How jolly!" exclaimed Louise, clasping her hands. "Ye-as. Ain't it? Jest," Cap'n Abe said. "Ahem! your father never spoke of Cap'n Am'zon?". "I don't believe daddy-prof even knew there was such a person." "Mebbe not. Mebbe not," Cap'n Abe agreed hastily. "And not to be wondered at. You see, Am'zon went to sea when he was only jest a boy." "Did he?" "Yep.
In speaking of his companions on shipboard, the professor had written: "I am by far the oldest person aboard the Curlew, skipper included. They are all young fellows, both for'ard and in the afterguard. Yet they treat me like one of themselves and I am having a most enjoyable time." Cap'n Abe was surely much older than her daddy-prof! It puzzled her. It troubled her.
The departure of her crew to-night will make it all the easier for Mr. Abram Silt's secret to be kept," the professor reminded her. "Yes. We will keep his secret," sighed Louise. "Poor Uncle Abram! After all, he can gain a reputation for courage only vicariously. It will be Cap'n Amazon Silt who will go down in the annals of Cardhaven as the brave man who risked his life for another, daddy-prof."
"Haven't you heard? Did you not get a letter?" demanded Mrs. Conroth. But she kept a suspicious eye on the captain. "From daddy-prof?" exclaimed Louise, jumping up. "Yes. Mailed at Gibraltar. Nothing has happened to that vessel he is on. That was all a ridiculous story. But there is something else, Louise." "Sit down, ma'am," Cap'n Amazon was saying politely. "Do sit down, ma'am."
"What a delightful old place it is! And Uncle Abram why, he's a dear! Daddy-prof was not half enthusiastic enough about the Cape Cod folk. It has been a distinct loss to me that I was never here before." She laid out her toilet requisites upon the painted pine bureau and hung her negligee over the back of a chair.
I might even be of some slight use," and she smiled at him till his own slow smile responded, troubled and amazed though he evidently was by her determination. "I've roughed it a good deal with daddy-prof. I can cook some things. And I can do housework " "Bet Gallup does that," interposed Cap'n Abe, finally getting his bearings. "Hi-mighty, ye did take me aback all standin', Niece Louise!
His love for the open for the sea and shore and all that pertained to them coincided exactly with Louise's own aspirations. She considered it all right that her father and herself spent much of their time as Lawford spent his. Only, daddy-prof often added to the sum-total of human knowledge by his investigations, and sometimes added to their financial investments through his work as well.
"Don't open it, daddy-prof, till you are out of sight of Cohasset Rocks," she said. "Then you will not know where I am going to spend the time of your absence until it is too late either to oppose or to advise." "You can't worry me," he told her, with admiration in his glance. "I've every confidence in you, my dear. Have a good time if you can."
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