“It’s no bebop!” called Gladys. “And what’s with those CBC guys that they have to play this same piece constantly?”

“You be quiet,” said Sina. Then she shook it off. “Old Tom took Wilfred fishing. He said they might not be back until tomorrow. If the water’s not too choppy, he thought he might go up the coast and stay at Friday Harbor. He says Wilfred deserves a holiday and they’re way ahead on the gardens now.”

“Noooooo!” said Winifred.

Sina just looked at her inquiringly. All along she had been expecting some version of the Crying Alice influence to out.

“We need to tell Wilfred something,” explained Winifred, beginning to breathe too rapidly.

“Well, you’ve no choice but to wait. We can’t recall them from the ocean, you know. What are your plans for today? Have you gathered the eggs yet?”

“Not yet. We’ll get back to you about our plans,” I said, dragging Winifred outside to discuss the situation.

“We have to do something,” she said, still breathing quickly and her eyes beginning to bulge.

“Well, fine,” I said, grabbing her arm and giving her a little shake in hopes of getting her to collect herself. “We don’t need Wilfred to call your mother. Let’s go back in and tell Sina everything.”

“No,” said Winifred, taking her arm back.

“Winifred, you must settle on some course of action,” I said.

“Oh dear, but it’s all so difficult. I think we must tell Mother, and then again I think we mustn’t sound an alarm until we are sure something is afoot. Zebediah and Father could be having some kind of game for all we know.”

“We’ve been through all this. Your mother knows something is afoot or she wouldn’t have gone up to Comox, yes? It won’t be a shock for her,” I said. “I say we call her and read her the letters.”

“I don’t know,” said Winifred. “I wish Wilfred were here.”

Really, I thought. I was suddenly glad I had no brother if one became so dependent upon his judgment.

“Perhaps we should ask the hermit what is up. Maybe Sina could ask him. He would have to tell her,” said Winifred.

“He wouldn’t,” I argued. “And she would be hard-pressed to ask him. She believes everyone should mind their own business.”

“But not in an emergency surely?” said Winifred.

“She’d say if it’s an emergency we must call your mother.”

“Oh, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do,” said Winifred.