rned and threw the boys a merry glance.

"If you are very good," she said, "we will let you eat with us
to-night."

"Fine!" cried Allen. "And biscuits, Betty?"

"Biscuits," she answered.

They were hilarious all during the meal. In the first place, everything
was delicious, and in the second, everybody was in the best of spirits.

Afterward they cleared away the dishes in no time, and the four girls,
Mrs. Irving having refused to be of the party, ran upstairs to get the
light wraps that were always needed at night. The boys met them outside
as they rushed down laughing and breathless, and ready for a good time.

"I hope it doesn't take the moon till twelve o'clock to show itself,"
said Will, as they made their way down the walk and on to the float
where the canoes were attached. "Mrs. Irving says that we are to be back
by ten o'clock at the latest."

"That will give us plenty of time," Frank answered. "Don't you remember
we saw it a little after seven last night?"

"It's lucky these canoes are eighteen feet long," said Allen, as he
unfastened the rope. "Otherwise we would have to take turns paddling."

"Who's going to do the work first?" asked Betty. Then she added: "I love
to paddle."

"If nobody has any objection," said Allen, "you shall. Grace, you drop
into the middle with Frank, until it comes your turn to do the work.
Betty may like it, but I must say I'd rather watch you people slave."

"All right, we'll go fifty-fifty with you," Frank agreed cheerily.
"Here, Grace, step in the middle--that's the way. Now we are all
settled. Let her go, Captain."

Allen swung himself into the stern, and deftly pushed the canoe clear of
the swaying float. "All right," he sang out. "Left hand or right, Betty?
It makes no difference to me. Now for the moon."

"Look out, Allen, you are getting poetical," warned Betty, as she dipped
her paddle into the clear water. "Many a man has reached for the moon,
only to find that he had plucked some green cheese."

"Are you sure it wasn't limburger?" asked Frank, mildly for so strong a
subject.

"Ugh, don't!" cried Grace. "How I hate even the name of the horrid
stuff!"

"And on a night like this, too," said Betty. "Can't we talk about
something less odoriferous?"

"Remember you started it," said Frank defensively.

"Yes, I know, but what I spoke of is such a wee little cousin to----"

"Is that the dipper up there, Frank?" Grace asked, in haste to change
the subject. "Som