changed at all, except that you're a million times dearer and sweeter
than you ever were," she finished, with a sudden outburst of affection.

Lucile hugged her gratefully, but her cheeks were still unduly red when
she answered, "I didn't know I was being so rude, and it must have
sounded frightfully foolish when I answered 'yes' instead of 'no'; but
I'll try to reform."

"Don't you do it," said Evelyn. "You don't know how interesting you are
this way, especially to Jessie. She says it's better than reading a story
any day, and she can enjoy herself without breaking any of the camp-fire
rules."

Lucile shot a reproachful glance at her friend, who laughed shamelessly,
"I don't care, Lucy; you'd enjoy it just as much as I do if you were in
my place. You used to make such fun of my McCutcheon books and
everything----"

"Yes; but don't forget I took it all back that day in camp when we
saw--well, you know what----"

"Yes, I know," said Jessie, star-eyed at the memory. "Was there ever such
a summer anyway?"

"You haven't told us yet what Jack said in his letter," Evelyn
interrupted, irrelevantly. "Be good to us, Lucy, and throw us some more
small scraps of information to satisfy our curiosity."

"Well, I can't tell you everything he said," Lucile began.

"We hardly expect that," murmured Jessie, and Lucile threw her a
suspicious glance.

"Well," she continued, after an ominous silence, during which Jessie
intently studied the sky-line, "I can tell you the part that would
interest you most. He says if he can persuade his uncle that he is
desperately in need of a change, he may see us in Paris."

"What?" cried Jessie, regarding Lucile with laughing eyes. "You mean that
Jack says he may actually come to Europe? That means he will, because he
can wind that wealthy old uncle of his around his little finger. Good
for dear old Jack!"

And so they talked on and on, reviewing past and prophesying future
delights, until the position of the sun reminded them that it was time to
seek the rest of the party.

"So here you are," said Mrs. Payton, as they approached her from around a
corner of the cabin. "We were beginning to think you had jumped
overboard. Your father has just gone around the other way to look for
you."

"I'm sorry we didn't come back before; I can see it must be about time to
land by Phil's face. He never looks sad unless he's hungry."

"You're wrong this time," said Phil. "I'm looking sad because I hav