e the next morning, shaking hands with her cousin, in the parlor o

s Tolliver to ask whether I might come to see you, like the well-behaved cousin I am. She repli

ecommended," Madge returned scornful

ow to help her," Jack teased, knowing Madge's aversion to the idea tha

ited Madge. "I think the girls are ready. We are. Here come Eleanor and Lillian.

ndie, with a cream-colored hat covered with violets, was shaking hands wi

n's help in anything they planned to do? And here was Madge introducing her cous

tions as the party started on their walk. When they came to the line of

g her hand toward the half dozen disreputabl

ked Jack in

white paper out of her bag. "You see, it is this way, Jack: We found that to rent a houseboat takes such a lot of money that we decided

agination, had quite transformed the ugly boat. The deck of the canal boat was about forty feet long, with a twelve-foot beam. To the two rooms, which the ordinary shanty boat contains, she had added another two, forming an oblong cabin, with four windows on each side and a fl

the drawing a long time

gerly. "You see, this old boat could be cleaned and paint

ing a low bow. "Hats off to the ladies, as usual.

ur canal boat," answered Phil, as th

ound the boat for us?" she inquired

longside of mine that you might be abl

forward, "you will be paid for your work. Wil

it," the man replied, leading th

alico dress of the day before; she was barefooted and her hair was ragged and unkempt. But as Jack Bolling and the four girls glanced idly at her a start of surprise ran through each on

ed by the sun, and her eyes were the deep blue of the midsummer sky. The wind and sun had tanned the girl's cheeks, but her s

The girl started and quivered, as though she expected a blow. Jack's face turn

the poor girl like tha

the man answered. "She is kind of foolis

s they stepped aboard the other canal boat, for the ti

t, trying hard to conceal her enthusiasm. The boat was dirty and

or a hundred dollars," said the fisherman, Mik

joy. One hundred dollars for the boat-that left another hundre

e with the man's offer a look f

declared decisively. "The young lady will give

I can't do it," he said. "That bo

mean," retorted

argain, which he did with so much spirit that the coveted bo

ilt according to Madge's idea, at a little town several miles farther down the bay. The man owned a motor boat. He was to take the houseboat to a landing, wh

that afternoon, as the quartette were on their way back to their school at Harborpoint. "I can see our

hanty boat, seventy-five for remodeling it, fifteen to the man for towing." Here she became confused. But she still kn

"I think we can do it, Madge," she said, leanin

have whole lots of money," a

we won't. There is one thing we

, utterly worn out. The three girls gazed at Phil in consternation. What w

Phil," laughed Eleanor. "Wha

dramatically. "And I know th

tone. "We don't want a kitchen stove. It would take up t

committee to look into the stove

"and I won't waste our capital on kitchen

hia, while Madge and Eleanor departed to spend a week with Mr. and Mrs. Butler in their old home in Virginia. Miss Jones, however, remained at the school. She made one hurried trip into Baltimore, and on another occasion ha