The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat Part 9

"Here is the situation," began the lawyer, when they were all seated facing him. His tone reminded Ruth of the time he had come to talk to them about their inheritance of the Corner House. "This boat, the _Bluebird_, belongs to an estate. The estate is being settled up, and the boat is going to be sold. A man living at the upper end of Lake Macopic has offered to buy it at a fair price if it is delivered to him in good condition before the end of summer. As the legal adviser of the estate I have undertaken to get this boat to the purchaser. And what I brought you here for, to-day, Minerva," he said, smiling at Ruth, "is to ask your opinion about the best way of getting the boat there."

"Do you really mean that?" asked the girl.

"I certainly do."

"Well, I should say the best plan would be to start it going, and steer it up the ca.n.a.l to the river, through the river into the lake and up the lake to the place where it is to be delivered," Ruth answered, smiling.

"But Mr. Howbridge said the boat couldn't be moved by the motor on the ca.n.a.l," objected Agnes.

"Well, have mules tow it, then," advised Ruth. "That is very simple."

"I am glad you think so," replied the lawyer. "And the next matter on which I wish your advice is whether to start the boat off alone on her trip, or just in charge of, say, the mule driver."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to trust a lovely houseboat like this to only a mule driver!" exclaimed Ruth.

"That's what I thought," went on her guardian, with another smile. "It needs some one on board to look after it, doesn't it?"

"Well, yes, I should say so."

"Then how would you like to take charge?" came the unexpected question.

"Me?" cried Ruth. "_Me?_"

"You, and all of you!" went on the lawyer. "Listen. Here is the situation. I have to send this houseboat to Lake Macopic. You dwellers of the Corner House need a vacation. You always have one every summer, and I generally advise you where to go. At least you always ask me, and sometimes you take my advice.

"This time I advise you to take a houseboat trip. And I make this offer.

I will provide the boat and all the needful food and supplies, such as gasoline and oil when you reach the river and lake. Everything else is on board, from beds to dishes. I will also hire a mule driver and engage some mules for the ca.n.a.l trip. Now, how does that suit you?"

"Oh! Oh!" exclaimed Agnes, and it seemed to be all she could say for a moment. She just looked at Mr. Howbridge with parted lips and sparkling eyes.

"How wonderful!" murmured Ruth.

"Can we go?" cried Tess.

"The whole family, including Neale," said Mr. Howbridge.

"Oo-ee!" gasped Dot, wide-eyed.

Agnes and Neale stared entranced at each other, Agnes, for once, speechless.

"Well, now I have made the offer, think it over, and while you are doing that I'll give a little attention to Neale's case," went on Mr.

Howbridge. "Now, young man, suppose we go and find this mule driver who seems to know something of your father."

"Oh, wait! Don't go away just yet!" begged Ruth. "Let's talk about the trip some more! Do you really think we can go?"

"I want you to go. It would be doing me a favor," said the lawyer. "I must get this boat to Lake Macopic somehow, and I don't know a better way than to have Martha and her family take it," and he bowed formally to his ward.

"And did you really mean I may go, too?" asked Neale.

"If you can arrange it, and Miss Ruth agrees."

"Of course I will! But, oh, there will be such a lot to do to get ready.

We'd have to take Mrs. MacCall along, too," she added.

"Of course," a.s.sented Mr. Howbridge. "By all means!"

"And would you go too?" asked Ruth.

"Would you like me to?" the lawyer countered.

"Of course. We'd all like it."

"I might manage to make at least part of the trip," was the reply. "Then you have decided to take my offer?"

"Oh, I think it's perfectly _wonderful_!" burst out Agnes.

As for Tess and Dot, it could be told what they thought by just looking at them.

"Very well then," said the guardian, "we'll consider it settled. I'll have to see about mules and a driver for the ca.n.a.l part of the trip and--"

An exclamation from Neale interrupted him.

"What is it?" asked the lawyer.

"Why couldn't we hire Hank Dayton for a mule driver?" Neale asked. "He's rough, but I think he's a decent man and honest, and he knows a lot about the ca.n.a.l and boats and mules."

"It might not be a bad idea," a.s.sented Mr. Howbridge. "We'll find him and ask him, Neale. And it would be killing two birds with one stone. He could help you in your search for your father. Yes, I think that will be a good plan. Girls, I'll leave you here to look over the _Bluebird_ at your leisure while Neale and I go to interview the mule driver."

"And I hope he will be able to tell you how to find your father, Neale,"

said Agnes, in a low voice.

"I hope so, too," added the boy. "You don't know, Aggie, how much I've wanted to find father."

"Of course I do, Neale. And you'll find him, too!"

Neale went on with Mr. Howbridge, somewhat cheered by Agnes' sympathy.

CHAPTER VII

MAKING PLANS

Left to themselves on the _Bluebird_, Ruth, Agnes, Dot and Tess went over every part of it again, from the engine room to the complete kitchen and living apartments.

"Neale will just love fussing around that motor," said Agnes.