"Just the day for a race!" Jo exulted. "Never felt in better form in my life!"
About two o'clock in the afternoon the girls turned out in full force to witness the boat race of the freshmen. The course of the race was from the boathouse to an island about half a mile distant; then around the island and back again to the starting point, making a little over a mile in all.
The girls in their bright-colored frocks were grouped along the shore of the lake like a border of fall flowers. They were talking and laughing in high spirits, calling gay greetings to each other.
Lily Darrow stood a little apart from the rest, so pale and quiet that more than once Kate spoke to her sharply and asked what she was "mooning" about.
Lily's reply to the last of these sharp queries was lost in a sudden cheering. The freshmen were lining up for the start.
"Go it, Jo! Go it, Sadie!" cried Nan.
Kate shot a venomous look at Nan and shrilled in a voice that carried above the rest:
"Beat 'em, Carol! Beat 'em, Ruth!"
"You can do it! Go to it!" added Lottie Sparks.