Bess was taking her third slice of bread. That inspired Belle.
"Bread, bread, Nettie's good bread—"
"When Bess took the loaf, we nearly fell dead," sang out Belle, rescuing the much-worn loaf from which Bess was trying to get a slice.
"The toasts are very well as far as they go," commented Cora, "but I notice that the food stuffs go farther."
"And the boys are coming at ten," remarked Hazel. "I'm glad I cooked. I don't have to wash the dishes."
"But the boys were going out in the canoe and now it's gone," Belle reminded them. "They were going to take the prize canoe, and the red one, and we would all then have a chance to float out together. Now, of course, we won't be able to go."
"We can go in our own boat," Cora said, "and really the lake is quite rough for canoeing this morning. When Laurel comes back she will likely bring her own boat and then we will have three in our fleet."
"Why couldn't you, and she come home in her canoe when you found your boat gone, Cora?" asked Bess suddenly.
"Hers was not at the dock—someone had borrowed it," Cora explained without explaining.
They had about finished their meal. Belle was already snatching the dishes, in spite of protests that there was some perfectly good eating which had not yet been eaten.