racteristic speech both Madge and her friends laughed. Madge
kissed Mrs. Curtis affectionately. Then, holding out her hand to Tom,
she said, "Do you think I could let you get away without seeing you for
a minute at least? Perhaps you had better go on to the station. I will
follow you on Dixie. We can talk after we reach there."

The carriage, closely followed by Madge on her pony, reached the little
station at least ten minutes before the time for the Curtis's train.
Madge could not leave Dixie to walk to the front of the station, so
Mrs. Curtis and her son walked to the road where Madge had alighted and
stood waiting for them, one hand in her pony's mane.

Tom thought he had never seen her look so pretty, but he was too wise
to say so. He had learned by embarrassing experience that Mistress
Madge frowned disapprovingly at the slightest intimation of a
compliment.

"Tom and I stopped at 'Forest House' to tell you that we are ready for
you. We wish you four girls to be our guests as soon as you can make
ready to come to us. Your uncle and aunt have given their consent to
the arrangement. We leave it to you and Nellie to communicate with
Lillian, Phil, and Miss Jenny Ann. You must rally the houseboat party.
Write to Madeleine and me and tell us anything you think you would like
to do. We are at Old Point Comfort. Good-bye, dear; here comes our
train. Don't disappoint us."

Mrs. Curtis and Tom boarded their train, leaving Madge staring after it
in happy anticipation of the good times that were sure to be theirs
when once more aboard the "Merry Maid."

CHAPTER II

WHAT MADGE FOUND IN THE ATTIC

"Aunt Sue," declared Madge gravely, wrinkling her straight, dark
eyebrows into a solemn frown, "there is only one thing that worries me
about our second houseboat party: Nellie and I haven't enough pretty
clothes."

Mrs. Butler looked as though she quite agreed with her niece. It was
the day after Mrs. Curtis's hurried call.

"You see, it is this way, Auntie. On our first trip our houseboat was
anchored in a quiet, out-of-the-way place. We met Mrs. Curtis only by
accident and had a few parties at the Belleview Hotel. This time we are
to be Mrs. Curtis's guests. Although the houseboat won't be on the
Virginia side of the bay, because the water is much too rough there, we
shall probably be crossing over to Fortress Monroe and Old Point and
all the lovely places near. Mrs. Curtis will be sure to get up parties
for us