human
Neale will just love fussing around that motor,
gpt
You speak as if we had already decided to make the trip,
human
Why, yes, haven't you? Agnes countered.
gpt
I thought you and Mr. Howbridge had fixed it up between you when you were chatting up on the front seat of the auto.
human
He never said a word to me about it,
gpt
He must have said something,
human
Oh, of course we talked, but not about _this_, and Ruth swept her hands about to indicate the _Bluebird_.
gpt
I was as much surprised as you to have him ask us if we would take her up to the lake.
human
Well, it will be delightful, don't you think?
gpt
Yes, I think it will. But of course it depends on Mrs. MacCall.
human
I don't see why!
gpt
Of course you do. She'll have to go along to act as chaperone and all that. We may have to tie up at night in lonely places along the canal or river and--
human
We'll have Neale and Mr. Howbridge! And how about asking Luke Shepard and his sister Cecile?
gpt
I don't believe Cecile and Luke can go, she replied slowly.
human
Cecile has got to go home to take care of her Aunt Lorena, who is sick, and Luke wrote me that he had a position offered to him as a clerk in a summer hotel down on the coast, and it is to pay so well that he would not dream of letting the opportunity pass.
gpt
Oh, that's too bad, Ruth. You won't see much of him.
human
I am not sure I'll see anything of him.
gpt
Well, anyway, as I said before, we'll have Neale and Mr. Howbridge,
human
Neale. But Mr. Howbridge is not sure he can go--at least all the way. However, we'll ask Mrs. MacCall.
gpt
I think she'll be just crazy to go! declared Agnes.
human
Come on, let's go right away and find out.
gpt
But we must wait for Mr. Howbridge to come back. He told us to.
human
Well, then we'll say we're already living on board, said Agnes.
gpt
Oh, won't it be fun to eat on a houseboat! and she danced off to the dining room, took her seat at the table, and exclaimed:
human
I'll have a steak, rare, with French fried potatoes, plenty of gravy and a cup of tea and don't forget the pie _à la mode_.