s was secretly chagrined when she discovered that the role
of heroine had fallen to Madge. Although the part of the erring
daughter furnished plenty of opportunity for acting, the honors of the
play fell to Madge. Flora was far too clever to show by any outward
sign that she was not pleased with the part assigned to her, but
privately she registered another grievance against the little captain,
and the determination to lower Madge's pride to the dust was never long
out of her thoughts. Just how this was to be done she could not yet
see, but she felt that sooner or later the opportunity was sure to
present itself.

Of one thing she was certain, Madge Morton and Phyllis Alden should not
win the boat race. She did not believe there was much possibility of
their winning. She had watched them rowing about in the "Water Witch"
and had decided that they possessed neither skill nor speed. She knew
that since their agreement to enter the race the two girls had been
practising diligently during the mornings on their side of the bay. She
and her cousin Alice had not been idle. They had done considerable
rowing in the mornings, also, and confidently expected to carry off the
prize, whatever it might be.

As for Madge and Phyllis, they entertained little idea of winning the
race. It was not to be expected, considering the fact that they were
competing with boys. Still, they hoped to make as good a showing as
Flora Harris and Alice Paine. They devoted their morning hours to their
practice, for the rehearsals of the play occupied Madge's afternoons,
and it must be confessed that Lieutenant James Lawton took up the
greater part of Phil's evenings. But whatever may have been his
failings in this direction, he was proving himself to be an efficient
coach.

His two pupils had placed themselves entirely under his training and,
according to his enthusiastic commendation, were improving rapidly.

"You girls are doing better with every minute!" was his lively praise
one morning as they rowed the "Water Witch" toward the houseboat. Their
practice was over for the day, and Lieutenant Jimmy was to take
luncheon with them.

It had been a particularly interesting morning. Madge felt more drawn
toward the young lieutenant than on any previous occasion. He had been
telling her and Phyllis of his life in the Navy, his hopes and
aspirations, and Phyllis had purposely drawn him into describing his
invention. He had just completed a model of his t