Mary Frances watched the splashing tail and shining back flashing in the sun. Two or three times he leaped playfully in the air, turned somersaults in the water, and then disappeared from sight in the little cove near the mouth of the river.
“OH, my,” thought Mary Frances; “oh, my, I hope he won’t forget!”
After a little while, she caught sight of the dolphin swimming around the little high peninsula on one side of the cove. He seemed to be piloting something, for every few seconds he would leap up and look around as if to make sure that everything was as it should be.
Soon Mary Frances saw a beautiful little sailboat rounding the point. Surely it was following the dolphin. As it drew nearer she could read the name in gold letters on the prow, The Good Ferry.
A brisk wind filled the white sails and brought the boat so swiftly up the river that the dolphin had to swim with all his might to keep ahead. As she came to anchor in the shallow water near the bank, the dolphin called out, “Have you your ticket?”
“Yes,” answered Mary Frances, holding it up to view.
“Then step on my back and jump aboard!” said the dolphin.
As Mary Frances placed her foot on the dolphin as on a bridge, he suddenly arched his back and tossed her aboard.
“Take plenty of time to look the ship over,” he called out; “and don’t lose your ticket!”
Then the dolphin, with The Good Ferry following in his wake, swam down the river and put out to sea.
The Good Ferry was a charming little boat, graceful in every line. It wasn’t any longer than a large rowboat, but it seemed to have every comfort provided. There was on deck a comfortable deck chair; upon it was spread a beautiful steamer rug.
“I’ll take a nice nap, after I look the boat over,” thought Mary Frances.
As she made her way into the cabin, she uttered a cry of delight--and no wonder. Any girl would have loved it. The walls and woodwork were ivory white. Soft pink and light blue hangings fluttered at the windows. A large bowl, filled with pink roses and turquoise blue larkspurs, stood on the little golden dressing table with its folding mirrors.
A little ivory-white princess dresser, with its full-length mirror, stood across one corner, and an ivory-white bed across the other corner. On the rocking-chair, and bed, and dresser were painted pink and blue flowers, and the covers of the table, bed and dresser were embroidered with the same designs.