It seemed long enough before they got back
to Van Bibber, but his guests were evidently but barely satisfied.
Still, all the goodness in his nature would not allow him to go
through that ordeal again.
He stepped out of the boat eagerly and helped out the girl with long
hair as though she had been a princess and tipped the rude young man
who had laughed at him, but who was perspiring now with the work he
had done; and then as he turned to leave the dock he came face to face
with A Girl He Knew and Her brother.
Her brother said, "How're you, Van Bibber? Been taking a trip around
the world in eighty minutes?" And added in a low voice, "Introduce me
to your young lady friends from Hester Street."
"Ah, how're you--quite a surprise!" gasped Van Bibber, while his late
guests stared admiringly at the pretty young lady in the riding-habit,
and utterly refused to move on. "Been taking ride on the lake,"
stammered Van Bibber; "most exhilarating. Young friends of mine--these
young ladies never rode on lake, so I took 'em. Did you see me?"
"Oh, yes, we saw you," said Her brother, dryly, while she only smiled
at him, but so kindly and with such perfect understanding that Van
Bibber grew red with pleasure and bought three long strings of tickets
for the swans at some absurd discount, and gave each little girl a
string.
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