"I'm going to town to catch the morning mail."
"The mail? But, my dear child, why such haste?"
Sylvia colored.
"I have to get off this letter."
"Have to?"
"Yes—to Hortie. You see, if I didn't answer promptly he might think the candy had gone astray," explained the girl stepping to the mirror and arranging a curl that rippled distractingly above her forehead.
"Oh, of course, you must thank him for the candy," Marcia agreed. "Still, is it necessary to do so in such a rush—to walk to the village this morning?"
"I mean to row over."
"I'm afraid you can't, dear. I discovered last night the boat was gone. Eleazer Crocker must have appropriated it when he was here yesterday."
"How horrid of him! What earthly right had he to take it?"