“Good!” cried Amy. “As for shoes——”
“Who took my candy?” cried Mollie, discovering the loss of the one she had put down to tie her lace. “It was the only one in the box and——”
Grace laughed, and thus acknowledged her guilt.
“I’ve got another box up stairs,” she said. “I’ll get it,” which she proceeded to do.
“Grace, you’ll ruin your digestion with so much sweet stuff,” declared Betty, seriously. “Really you will.”
“I suppose so, my dear; but really I can’t seem to help it.”
“As captain of the Gem I’m going to put you on short rations, as soon as our cruise begins,” said Betty. “It will do you good.”
“Perhaps it will,” Grace admitted, with a sigh. “I’ll be glad to have you do it. Now, is everything arranged for?”
“Well,” answered Betty, “This is how it stands: We are to start on Tuesday, and motor down the river, taking our time. Aunt Kate will go with us for the first few days, and, as you know, we have arranged for other chaperones on the rest of the cruise. We will eat aboard, when we wish to, or go ashore for meals if it’s more convenient. Of course we will sleep aboard, tying up wherever we can find the best place.
“I plan to get to Rainbow Lake about the second day, and we will spend a week or so on that, visiting the different points of interest—I’m talking like a guide book, I’m afraid,” she apologized with a smile.