"I came to fetch your coffee," she announced, cheerfully. "You must think we are planning to dynamite something," she added.
"Oh, worse than that," replied Dray, getting one more spoonful of slump on the sly. "We thought you were taking a negative vote on the coffee. Nerves, at night, you know."
"Let me help you," insisted Belle. "I am almost stiff from sitting, or maybe it is from the way I _wasn't_ sitting in the bottom of the boat."
"Very likely," affirmed Jack. "I would not be surprised if we had to come around in the morning with nippers to get the kinks out. I see one forming, right now, in Lottie's cheek."
"We will be stiff, I am sure," added Bess, "although our muscles ought to be in good form."
"When you have finished," Freda whispered to Belle, "we want to give Denny something."
"Of course," Belle replied. "How selfish we are, sitting here 'gabbing,' and neither you nor your mother has had supper yet. I'll serve coffee at once."
"Don't hurry," Freda said. "We have time enough."
Everyone, however, seemed to guess at once that they should make room for the next "table," and the coffee was swallowed, hastily.
"What is it?" Lottie ventured to ask Freda. "We are just dying of curiosity. What has happened?"
"Oh, I can't tell you now," Freda answered, evasively. "I guess everyone knew we were shipwrecked this afternoon."
Cora appeared at the door. "May we come to eat now?" she asked. "I have only succeeded in making Denny stay with the understanding that we won't keep him long. He is anxious to get back to his cabin."
"I am that," said Denny, following Cora into the dining room. "Can't tell what'll happen now."
"Then something _did_ happen," Bess said aside, to Marita. "I can't imagine what."
"Now you must eat a good meal," Mrs. Lewis insisted to Denny. "I remember well how you always loved macaroni and cheese."
"And I remember well how you fixed it up," answered Denny, gallantly. "This is a bit like the old days; isn't it? When I used to eat you out of house and home, when Len would fetch me into your house to tempt me appetite," and he chuckled at the recollection. "Freddie, you were only a tot then, but you could climb on my knee right smart. I guess you were always a romp." This last was plainly intended as a compliment, for Denny smiled at Freda as she handed him his steaming coffee.