“That was it.”
“Two more ‘heroines,’” remarked Olivia.
“Only one,” said Hilary. “Cathalina kept Isabel up till I got there, and then the canoe upset! I think I could have taken Isabel to shore, but it would have taken so much longer.”
Betty and Lilian were at home when the girls reached the suite, and had not heard a word of the whole matter. They brought Hilary’s own pretty gown, opened the bed and tucked her in “her downy cot,” as Lilian said.
“My, doesn’t bed feel good?” said Hilary. “I’d be all right if I hadn’t swallowed a lot of that river water, and they gave me something hot at the pest house that made my head swim. Why, I’ve paddled miles, and—swim, swam, swum a long time without its hurting me. I was in the water this time only a few minutes.”
“But it was the strain of the danger, I imagine, and Isabel so near drowning, that made you feel so used up,” suggested Lilian.
“Miss Randolph told me to go to bed and stay there,” laughed Hilary, “and she would order a good dinner sent up to me. I wasn’t to worry about either Cathalina or Isabel. Cathalina is just tired out.”
“Why couldn’t Isabel swim?” asked Virginia, for the account had been confusing as it was repeated to Betty and Lilian.
“She must have been hurt in some way getting loose from that branch or log, whatever it was.”
“Maybe she just fainted,” suggested Olivia.