us activity. "Then perhaps it would be better
for you to stay at home," she said lightly. "You might do some
damage to us peaceful citizens. By the way, have you ever swum
as far as Blueberry Island? It's a mile, I think. That ought to
work off some of your superfluous energy. You have special
permission to go in this afternoon. When you get there wait
until I come for you in the launch. We can keep our eye on you
from the road while you are swimming." Sahwah jumped for joy and
ran to get into her bathing suit.

The cool water closed around her limbs like the caress of a
loving hand and her irritation vanished like magic. Water was
Sahwah's element, and as she propelled herself gracefully across
the sparkling lake, feeling the absolute mastery of her muscles,
changing regularly from left to right in her side stroke, she
might have been taken for a mermaid by some Neckan of the deep.
She reached Blueberry Island in good time and, climbing up on the
rocky shore, sat down in the sun to dry.

Meanwhile Gladys was not having anywhere near such a glorious
time. She tossed on her bed for a long time, feeling more sorry
for herself every minute. She still thought Nyoda's explanation
of the candy rule a weak excuse for an act of tyranny, and was
furious at the thought of having been caught in an undignified
position. The tears, which she had managed to hold back in front
of Nyoda, came now, and she cried herself into a genuine
headache. But it was all self-pity; there was no real sorrow for
her fault. She considered herself the most abused girl in the
world; deserted by her parents, disliked by girls whom she
considered beneath her, and deprived of her rights by a young
woman who had no real authority over her.

"I bet the other girls eat candy between meals too," she said to
herself viciously, "only they're too clever to get found out. I
wouldn't have been found out either, if it hadn't been for that
snippy little Sahwah making a fuss!" She worked herself into a
perfect fury, and blamed Sahwah for all of her troubles. "I'd
give a whole lot to get even with her," she said to herself, and
immediately began looking around the tent for something of
Sahwah's which she could damage. The only thing in evidence was
her tennis racket, and Gladys took it out and deliberately put a
stone through it. Then, frightened at what she had done, and
thoroughly homesick and miserable, she sat down and began a
letter to her fa