the train, in fact
the subject was not touched on, and Mr. Briggs was entertaining her with
a funny story when the door opened and Mr. Rose walked in.

"Hello, Dolly-Polly," he said, cheerily; "had your breakfast? Good for
you, Mrs. Briggs, glad you gave the little lady a bite. Come along now,
Dolly, we must be on the move."

Mr. Rose's face was so smiling and his manner so pleasant, that Dolly
jumped up from her chair and ran to his side. He put his arm round her
and kissed her cheek and then with brisk good-byes and thanks to the
hospitable Briggs, he whisked Dolly away.

"Skip it!" he said, and taking her hand they skipped across the road and
down the long length of the pier. There was Mr. Rose's motor-boat
waiting, with Long Sam at the wheel.

"Mornin' folkses," he said, unfolding his ungainly length as he rose to
help them in. Long Sam, it was generally agreed, had the longest length
for the narrowest width of any man in the county. He grinned at Dolly
and taking her hands helped her into the boat, while Mr. Rose followed.

In a moment they were off, and the little boat scooted up the lake in a
hurry. The sun was well up now and it was a warm day, so the lake breeze
was most refreshing and the swift motion very exhilarating. Mr. Rose
said no word whatever concerning Dolly's informal departure from his
camp, but he was so gay and entertaining that Dolly herself forgot it.
He pointed out various houses and camps along the shore, often telling
funny stories of the people who lived there. He showed her the club
house and the casino and the picnic grounds and lots of interesting
places, which had passed unnoticed on their trip up the lake the night
before. Sometimes Long Sam put in a few words in his dry, comical way,
and Dolly found herself enjoying the morning lake ride immensely.

Mr. Rose was in the midst of a funny story at which Dolly was shaking
with laughter as they reached the pier which belonged to Crosstrees
camp.

"Out you hop!" exclaimed Mr. Rose, jumping out himself and in a moment
Dolly was beside him on the pier. Mrs. Rose and the two girls stood
there smiling, their arms full of bathing suits.

"Hurry up, Doll," cried Dotty, grabbing her arm. "This is your bathhouse
right next to mine and here's your suit. Scrabble into it, quick's you
can."

And so almost before she knew it, Dolly was shut in to her little bath
house and was hastily changing from her street suit to her
bathing-dress.

Just