Molly Sefton had something on her mind, a very serious "something," Molly thought; and it was because of this something that Rodman Cree had been invited for his first canoe ride.
A light wind curled the water into tiny ripples. It was morning of the last Saturday in September, and across the lake you could see a faint yellowish-red tinge on the maple trees of Shadow Island.
The two stood on the pier at the foot of High Street, with the Seftons' new sailing canoe riding in the water alongside. Only the day before it had been delivered from the Fair Play Factory, and now, with the newly varnished paddles and nickled trimmings and white lateen sail, the craft looked very inviting indeed.
Molly giggled.
"What's funny?" Rodman turned, mildly surprised.
"You are! Why, I haven't seen you smile for a week, but now you simply must, else I shan't allow you in the canoe with me."
He did smile, half-heartedly at first, and then more broadly and honestly, till the smile had grown into an old-time laugh.
"That's better. I am going to take you sailing, after all. But are you sure," she added slyly, "that you can swim?"
Rodman answered the question with a contemptuous sniff. "Maybe you can't, though," he said.