"Oh, long before," Mollie assured him, rising hurriedly, and starting toward the house, while the others followed her example.
Then after a whispered consultation with the girls at the door, she turned and threw the boys a merry glance.
"If you are very good," she said, "we will let you eat with us to-night."
"Fine!" cried Allen. "And biscuits, Betty?"
"Biscuits," she answered.
They were hilarious all during the meal. In the first place, everything was delicious, and in the second, everybody was in the best of spirits.
Afterward they cleared away the dishes in no time, and the four girls, Mrs. Irving having refused to be of the party, ran upstairs to get the light wraps that were always needed at night. The boys met them outside as they rushed down laughing and breathless, and ready for a good time.
"I hope it doesn't take the moon till twelve o'clock to show itself," said Will, as they made their way down the walk and on to the float where the canoes were attached. "Mrs. Irving says that we are to be back by ten o'clock at the latest."
"That will give us plenty of time," Frank answered. "Don't you remember we saw it a little after seven last night?"
"It's lucky these canoes are eighteen feet long," said Allen, as he unfastened the rope. "Otherwise we would have to take turns paddling."