ow I must run back. Have any of
the other members of the club been over?"

"Yes, Mollie was just here."

Grace fished out another chocolate, after shaking up the bag to see if
there were any choice ones at the bottom, and then, after trying in vain
to induce Betty to accept a sweet, took her departure, saying she was
going to see to her own packing.

"Now it only needs a call from Amy to make the round of visits
complete," murmured Betty, as she resumed the sorting of her garments.
But Amy did not come that morning.

The outdoor girls were making ready for their trip to Ocean View, where
the better part of the summer would be spent.

The arrangements had been made for the Nelson family to occupy the
beautiful cottage, Edgemere, which was completely furnished.

"Even to matches and a candle in each bedroom," Betty had said.

"But I thought you said it was a modern place," objected Grace. "I don't
like candles--excuse me, Betty dear, but they are so--so smelly!"

"I know. The candles are only for emergency. The house has electric
lights."

"Electric lights! I thought Ocean View was such a _quaint_ old place,"
murmured Mollie.

"So it is. The electric plant is in Point Lomar, that swell summer
resort. Only a few places in Ocean View have electricity."

And so the arrangements went on. Mollie, Grace and Amy were to be
Betty's guests during the summer, though their parents or relatives had
a standing invitation to spend week-ends and holidays at the shore.

"And of course the boys are always welcome!" added Betty.

"And of course we'll _come_!" declared Will and the others. "That is,
I'll spend as much time as I can away from my official duties!"

"Oh, he nearly told us then!" cried Grace. "Will, I'll never speak to
you again, if you don't tell me that secret."

"You shall know in due time, sister mine. As for your threat, I don't
mind your not speaking to me if you don't make me buy your chocolates. I
care not who speaks to me!" he paraphrased, "as long as I do not have to
buy their candy!"

"Here comes Percy Falconer!" interrupted Roy, and the little
conference, one of many held whenever the friends met--broke up.

While the girls were getting ready with trunks of clothes, the boys were
no less busily engaged. They had completed their plans for a series of
cruises along the coast, in the motor boat _Pocohontas_, loaned to Allen
Washburn by a wealthy gentleman for whom he had done some law business,
tho