Laura did not tell something she knew—-to the effect that at her request Dr. Bentley had wired Mr. Howgate, urging that the permission be granted to the boys to race as a high school organization.
"May we take you young ladies out in the canoe this morning?"
Dick inquired.
"Only a few of us, or for very short, trips," Laura replied.
"The fact is, we girls are to play hostess to you this noon."
"Hostess?" asked Dave, looking puzzled.
"Yes; we are going to be your hostesses at luncheon," Laura smiled.
"But I thought you girls were going to skip luncheon in favor of the picnic meal to-night."
"Wait until you boys see the luncheon," laughed Susie Sharp, "and you'll be sure to think we might as well have skipped that meal. It will be light and shadowy, I promise you. Toast, lettuce salad, moonbeam soup, sprites' cake, feather pudding and ghost fruit."
"Won't there be some dog biscuit?" asked Danny Grin hopefully.
"You shall have a special plate," Susie promised.
So the canoe was hauled up on the float and left there, and a general chat followed.