Mollie. "And how do you know that wasn't just what he needed to start him
on the downward path--"

"Heavens, how melodramatic," drawled Grace. "Here, Mollie dear, have a
candy and try to cheer up."

"Then I'd have indigestion and never cheer up," retorted Mollie crossly.
"Sometimes you make me feel as if I were on a little island completely
surrounded by chocolates, Grace, and whenever anything bothered me I'd
only have to eat one--a chocolate, I mean, not the island--to forget all
my troubles."

"Oh, bliss," sighed Grace ecstatically. "If you have discovered any such
wonderful island, Mollie darling, lead me to it, and I will spend all the
rest of my life worshipping you."

"When you're not too busy gobbling the chocolates," Mollie returned with a
twinkle in her eyes.

"Which reminds me," broke in Betty, shaking off the thoughtful mood that
had taken possession of her, "that this is the day of our picnic, and if
we don't get back to the Hostess House pretty soon the boys will be there
before we have even made a sandwich."

"Goodness," cried Mollie in consternation, "all this talk about criminals
put the boys entirely out of my head."

"I should hope so," twinkled Betty. "Our boys are as little apt to remind
us of criminals as anybody I know. But seriously," she added, a little of
the thoughtfulness returning, "I think we're making a mistake in thinking