there's precious few men you can
say that of.' It's worth while to have that sort of a father, Ernest,
but it makes the Morton name somewhat of a responsibility to live up to,
doesn't it?"

Marian gave him a pat and pulled his head down to kiss him.

Katy and Gertie had been busy all day with their own preparations for
departure. Marian was helping them with their packing, because Mrs.
Morton had her hands full with the lunch and Ernest's clothes and trunk.
Chicken Little vibrated between the two centers of interest. Jilly also
assisted, contributing articles of her own when she caught the spirit of
packing. Her mother rescued a cake of soap and one of her shoes, but
after Katy and Gertie arrived at home, they discovered one of Jilly's
nighties reposing on top of their Sunday hats and her rag doll neatly
wedged in a corner of their trunk. Ernest was not overlooked either.
When he unpacked at Annapolis, his recently acquired New York roommate
was decidedly amazed to see him draw forth a small, pink stocking from
the upper tray and a little later, a soiled woolly sheep along with his
shirts. Ernest found his explanations about a baby niece received rather
incredulously until a choice packet containing half a doughnut, a
much-mutilated peach, two green apples, and a mud pie appeared. Jilly
had evidently prepared a lunch for her uncle. They both went off into
rumbles of mirth over this remarkable exhibit and began a friendship
which was destined to be enduring.

Jane's boat ride scheme found favor, but Mrs. Morton declared they must
put it off till after supper. They drove over and found the Captain
smoking contentedly on the veranda.

"I was hoping you young people would come to-night," he said, "though I
intended going to the train to see you off in any event. I shall miss
these young ladies sadly, and Ernest seems to belong to me a little, now
that he has decided to be a sailor, too."

"If I get in, I shall owe it to you, for I should never have thought of
Annapolis if you hadn't suggested it," Ernest replied.

"Well, I trust I have not influenced you to a decision you will some day
regret. You seem to me to have many of the qualifications for a naval
officer."

"Do you think he is sufficiently qualified to row the _Chicken
Little_, Captain Clarke?" asked Jane suggestively.

The Captain's eyes twinkled. "If he isn't, I think Sherm is. We might
let the one who gets there first prove his skill."

The boys were n