ie?"

"Oh, the early Summer mornings are beautiful," replied Freda, "and I
am sorry I had to lose so many of them. Who's that? The girls, looking
for us! There's Bess puffing, and Belle--fluffing. I do think they are
the most attractive pair."

Cora smiled, for her own devotion to the Robinson twins was only
paralleled by the twins' devotion to Cora.

"Cora! Freda!" called youthful voices from the path. "Where are you?"

"Come in--do!" answered Denny, who always had a spare chair for
visitors.

"Oh, we can't," replied Belle. "Cora, the boys are threatening to take
out the _Chelton_. And oh! I'm completely out of breath. It's dreadful
to try to hurry through the sand."

"Indeed they shall not take the _Chelton_ out without my permission,"
Cora declared. "When we make our initial trip I intend to command it.
For one thing, Uncle Denny is to come along; for another--well, that's
to be a little surprise. This afternoon at two exactly--will you come,
Uncle Denny?"

"I will that," the old sailor replied. "I think it would be a good
thing to have a little weight, like my old head, in her when she
starts out. Them laddies are always up to pranks."

"Oh, we are just crazy to get out on the water," Bess put in, "and
what do you think? That vain little Lottie went all the way to town to
get the exact nautical cap. I wonder if she thinks folks in motor
boats run slowly enough to see little white caps on little light
girls?"

"When we get going I think all that will be seen will be splash, and
all that will be heard will be chug," Cora remarked. "But come on.
Let's hurry along. I promised Rita to help her with something."

"What?" asked Bess, curiously.

"Now, Bessie, that would be telling," replied Cora, stopping just long
enough to empty the sand from her tennis shoe. Denny was trudging
along after them--he could not resist an excuse to go down to the
shore.

"Well, I'll say good-bye," said Freda. "I have to run back to mother.
She will think I am lost."

"But you are coming this afternoon?" Cora insisted.

"Oh, I really can't, Cora, thank you," answered the other. "I have
something so important to look after."

"What are you girls up to?" demanded Belle. "You have been acting
mysteriously ever since you met on the train. Freda, it is really
unpardonable not to take the initial trip with us, but if you really
cannot----"

"I really cannot," returned Freda, decisively, and somehow the girls
realized that Fred