Jane giggled. How could anybody help liking a boy like Cliff?
“Don’t let’s waste our time on card tricks,” was David’s reply. “The light’s fading. We ought to be out on the river. Or in it, if you prefer,” he added, addressing Mary Louise.
Clifford, disappointed, put his cards away.
“You can show me all your tricks tomorrow,” whispered Jane sympathetically. “I love them!”
“It’s a date!” exclaimed Cliff eagerly.
Mary Louise stood up, to conceal her nervousness at the sharp way in which David had spoken.
“O.K.,” she said. “Let’s go somewhere. Where?”
“In my motorboat?” suggested Cliff.
Everybody agreed, and the arrangement proved satisfactory, for the boat was large enough for Jane and Cliff to be together at the wheel, and David and Mary Louise off in another corner. Silky sat upright in the middle of the boat, as if he believed he were the chaperon and it was his sacred duty to keep his eye on everybody.
The evening passed pleasantly, for the stars were out, and the breeze over the river delightfully cool, and the boat itself in perfect condition. Even David forgot his grudge against rich young Hunter and under the magic spell of the night joined happily in the singing. Mary Louise, however, insisted that they come home early, for though they hardly realized it, both girls were tired from their long trip.