e, and then the relieved voi

ce. I'm so gl

t from her rather mumbled words-which mumbling I have been u

te?" she went on,

as this!" rebuked Betty, her mind fil

the matter wi

and she motioned

Has she fai

ere is

. We were looking eve

ow s

st out Betty. "Why, wha

k quite

Come in

essed was going to be some sort of a strange secret could stop h

re hop

o the room, her dark hair straying rat

re sitting together, while in a sort of dialog

etty. "I wanted to do something-or say

he ought to be put out of school!" burst out th

the girl, who had already started from the room. "Amy doesn't wish it.

ouldn't go to her,"

h I had better control of myself," she added,

," spoke Grace. "But we

f," and she exten

exclaimed Mollie, placing her hand on her firm, white throat. "I-

't let her know that she has annoyed us. Sometimes I

ill be all over school

ind," spoke

ed Betty. "It's more romantic than anything

to do that," sa

e other pupils had gone home, for vacation days were near,

said Mollie, as th

uestione

r familiar-Kittie. Her n

ness sake, speak to them. We don't want a scene. Perhaps

close friend, hoped for any demonstration on the part o

aily-though it was a bit forced-of their coming trip. And I must do Alic

r brother. "And Frank Haley is with him. Here, girls, take

ave them?" asked Am

g them. Oh, bother! T

has a new suit. V

appeared, brought them toward the girls. There was no escape, and the little throng walked

greeted Percy. "Wonderful we

he irrepressible Mollie. "Hor

w," began Per

t the clothes?"

London im

's Emporium, on Main street, has the same thing in the win

ow! Quit you

" begged Will. "Come on,

it-not!" quoted Grace, with a laugh. "Noth

e chocolates?" This i

corrected

k beside Betty, who frustrated him by keeping Amy close to

eemed to have recovered her spirits, and the girls made no reference t

ermined to go off on t

floated back t

Why, don't you th

t the sight of the first tramp-or

dark eyes had little of fun in them

hem, and the girls continued on

aked to-day, and we'll have a cup of t

aid Amy, with a little hesita

in!" begged t

ns, hand in hand and solemn-eyed

ears!" gus

," whispered Betty,

them. They are clean one minute-voila! like little Arabs the next! What would you have?" and she thre

ed Grace, of the little fellow, when s

" came the dipl

tch!" cried his older sister. "Paul

andy?" came in in

rsel-if you'd kiss me f

able retort. "I like tandy-Dodo

!" laughed Betty "Do, Grace, if you

of it spread on their faces than had entered the

lie, when they had been refreshed by cakes and tea. "My boat wil

back," remarked Gr

st get in-training, I believe the pro

querie

or walk," explained

oon the four girls were in an old-fashioned, but safely constructed

he girls by a fringe of trees. And as they floated on they talked at

when they came to a wide part of the river. "It's more p

orm," agreed Grace. "If it rains now

. Soon the boat was in the middle of the stream. They had gone on for perhaps half a mile, when Be

feet are wet! Mollie,

aki

water is fair

mination under the bott

tragic tones, "there'

t!" begged Amy

tty. "There is no danger! Sit

cried the nervous Amy.

deed i

my boat, but they must have, and they've loosened the drain plug

a hole in the bottom of the boat, through which aperture t

!" cried Grace

e boat. "It couldn't get out. Look for it! Find it! Or,

t, setting the boards afloat, and thoroughly wetting the skirts of the