“You might suggest it to him,” laughed Toby as he prepared to return to Johnstown to keep his five-thirty appointment. “You get in and come over with me, and you can tell him about it on the way back.”
But Phebe shook her head, and she and Arnold got into the _Frolic_, and the two launches raced out of the harbor and half-way across the bay. But Toby’s little boat was no match for the _Frolic_, and after a while the white launch came around, Phebe and Arnold waving their hands as they passed the _Urnove_ on their way back. Mr. Whitney was waiting at the landing, and as he seated himself in the boat he took his hat off and laid it beside him. “It’s been a hot day, T. Tucker,” he said with a sigh. “Take all the time you want going back. This breeze is fine!”
So Toby not only let the engine idle but stood straight across to the Head and then turned back along the shore, lengthening the trip, to Mr. Whitney’s pleasure and his own satisfaction, for he felt that he was coming nearer to earning that three dollars! “I ought to pay more this time,” said the passenger, as he disembarked at the town float. “You didn’t bargain to take me on a pleasure cruise!”
But Toby smiled and said that part was a present, and Mr. Whitney went off to find a carriage to take him over to the railroad after arranging for another trip to Johnstown on Monday morning. Toby chugged across the cove and tied up at the home dock and then hurried to supper, jingling the coins in his pocket in time to the tune he was whistling. Four dollars and a quarter! Toby had visions of opulence! And, better still, he had visions of Yardley Hall School!
The next day he realized that he should have added the words “Weather permitting” to his notice, for there was a south-east gale blowing and, although Toby would willingly have made the trip if necessary, he knew that no one would think of trusting themselves to the launch today. He begrudged the possible loss of income, but was well enough satisfied to stay on land. It rained at times, but never enough to flatten out the waves that piled themselves up outside the harbor. Arnold came over on foot after dinner, clothed in oilskins, and they spent the rest of the day watching Long Tim put the first coat of paint on the _Aydee_, now almost ready to take the water, and in putting away most of a pan of fudge which Phebe made. They also tried to add to Mr. Murphy’s education, but with no success. The parrot was in a most unreceptive mood today and only eyed them morosely from his perch. Arnold’s attempts to make him say “Toby is a chump” met with no response except sober winks.