Margy spoke with such energy that every one laughed and, after a minute or two, she had to laugh at herself.
"Take my advice, Margy," said Mr. Marley, from the railing where he was tying up a trailing vine, "and be so busy you won't have any time to be annoyed."
Meeker Cottage was so comfortable and so convenient that by the time they had occupied it three days, the three River Bend families began to feel as though they really lived there. They soon settled down to a more or less regular program, and as Sunrise Beach was one of those excellently managed shore towns where every one likes to know every one else and friendly courtesy seems to be part of the atmosphere, the children were allowed to come and go pretty much as they pleased. They had certain tasks to do each morning, as their contribution to the work of running the house, and some older person was always on hand when they went bathing. But they took long walks up and down the beach, explored the country back of the town with fair thoroughness, and, inside a week, knew, so Mr. Marley declared, the name of every cottage and bungalow resident.
"Artie speaks to all the dogs," said Mr. Marley. "Fred knows all the fishermen. And Ward, I notice, likes to do the errands. I hope he doesn't wheedle cakes from the fat bakery lady."
For the first week the three fathers enjoyed a rest and a real vacation, and then one morning they went back to River Bend in Mr. Larue's car, promising to return the following Friday.
"Polly, do you know what the boys are doing?" Margy asked, squinting a little, which gave her a wise look.
The sun was in her eyes, for she and Polly and Jess had ridden to the crossroads in the car and were now walking back to the cottage. The boys had declined the invitation to go.
"No, I don't, but it's something mysterious," said Polly promptly.
"I think they're mean not to tell us," Jess declared. "I met Carrie Pepper in the post-office yesterday and she said she saw them 'way up past the fishing pier. There's nothing to see up there."
"We might go and look," suggested Margy. "Maybe they're building that raft they're always talking about."