in. Would somebody please be there to meet her? Her mother
and father had gone on ahead to Lighthouse Island to get everything ready
for the girls when they arrived.

Would they be there to meet her! Billie was so excited that she couldn't
eat her supper, and as soon as she could get away from the table she
rushed over to Laura's home to tell her the joyful news. From there the
pair called up Vi and invited her to come and celebrate.

And celebrate they did until it got so late that Mrs. Jordon had gently
but firmly to put them out, appointing Teddy to escort the girls home.

"I don't want your mothers to think I've kidnapped you," she called after
them as she and Laura, the latter pouting a little, stood in the doorway
to wave good-bye to them.

"Just the same, I think you might have let them stay a little longer,"
protested Laura as they turned to go inside. "It's only ten o'clock, and
we had so much to talk about."

"I know," said Mrs. Jordon, putting an arm lightly about her young
daughter's shoulders. "I was the same way at your age, dear. Mother had
to send away my friends and put me to bed regularly every week or so. Now
it's my turn, that's all."

Meanwhile Teddy and Billie had dropped Vi at her house and had turned
down the broad, elm-shaded street on which stood the Bradley home.

For some reason or other they did not talk very much. They did not seem
to find anything to say. Billie had never been alone like this with Teddy
before, and she was wondering why it made her tongue-tied.

"I say, Billie," began Teddy, clearing his throat and looking down at her
sideways--for all the world, as Billie thought, as if she were a mouse
trap and might go off any minute--"is it really settled that you are
going to start day after to-morrow?"

"Yes. And isn't it wonderful?" cried Billie, finding her voice as the
blissful prospect opened up before her again. "I've never stayed at the
seashore more than a day or two, Teddy, in my life, and now just think of
spending the whole summer there. I can't believe yet that it isn't a
dream."

"You want to be careful," said Teddy, staring straight before him, "if
you go in bathing at all. There are awfully strong currents around there,
you know."

"Oh, of course I know all about that," returned Billie, with the air of
one who could not possibly be taught anything. "Connie says her Uncle Tom
knows of a darling little inlet where the water's so calm it's almost
like a swimmi