Payne, I understand that Mr. Garman has given orders that the
Egret is at your disposal if you wish to go down the river. I believe
you had planned such a trip, had you not?"
"Are you going?" asked Annette suddenly.
"Yes. Our ditcher is down there at Gumbo Key. I'll feel safer if I
start him up the river myself."
Annette jumped up with a cry of relief.
"Get my sweater coat, Aunty. Get one for yourself. Father! Father,
wake up! We're all going for a nice, beautiful, cool ride down the
river."
"Annette!" gasped Mrs. Livingstone; but Annette carried all before her
like a young spring storm.
Payne had not contemplated a start until near evening, but within half
an hour he found himself beside the girl leaning over the port rail of
the Egret and watching the water curl away from her gleaming bows as
the boat slipped swiftly downstream toward Gumbo Key.
"I was suffocating back there," she explained. "I had to get away.
Yes, Aunty; I'll come out of the sun in a minute--Mr. Payne, I want to
thank you for the way you lied to my father about being satisfied with
your land. Why did you do it?"
He turned to her, intending to laugh the matter away, but as he met her
look, his eyes betrayed him.
"Why did you do it?" she whispered.
Payne looked away; and there was no need for him to speak.
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