“Come out for a swim” cried Walter, imitating a seal, and barking like one.
“I mean in imagination,” added Cora. “There, I think that is all. Our trunks and suit cases are nearly packed, Cousin Mary will be here later to-night, ready to start in the morning with us. Our route is all mapped out, and I guess we can count on a good time.”
“Are the bungalows near the beach?” asked Eline.
“Almost on it,” answered Cora. “At high tide and with the wind on shore the spray comes on the porches!”
“Oh dear!” exclaimed Belle, apprehensively. “I know—”
“You’re going to learn to swim, you promised!” cried Cora. “Can anyone think of anything else?”
They all could, and promptly proceeded to do so, a perfect babel of talk ensuing. Some forgotten points were jotted down and then, as it was getting late, the young people dispersed, promising to meet early in the morning. It had stopped raining when they went out, so there was no need to hunt up umbrellas.
“Cora,” said Jack, a bit solemnly, as he was helping her lock up for the night, “was there anything about that strange woman that you didn’t tell us?”
“Not a thing, Jack, except that I discovered her in the stairway that time I screamed, and I let you think it was a rat. Then I told her to hurry in the house without being seen. I saw she was in no condition to talk then. That was all.”
“Good for you, Sis. You managed it all right. But I would like to get at the bottom of her trouble.”