Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/120

102 grandmother, and she is lame and deaf, so she can’t go with us. Don’t worry though; I’ll know what to do.”

It was queer about Sally, how calm she always was. Perhaps she had less imagination than other children and so was not apt to be  aroused by the thought of dangerous possibilities. The thing directly before her was always the one thing that Sally saw, saw it  clearly and fully and knew just what she was  going to do about it.

By the time Billy had finished eating, she was not only in full possession of his story, but  had put on her coat, had got ready a large  bundle and a basket and had explained as  much of the situation to her grandmother as  spasmodic shouting could accomplish.

“Eh, eh,” said the old lady, “I understand,” although it was very doubtful if she did.

They set out together down the lane, Billy feeling much cheered now that he had some  notion of what they were to do. Capable Sally’s experience evidently included just  such a situation as this, for people had been  ship-wrecked before off Appledore Island,  and she had helped to care for them after-