In an instant Madge's hands were alongside the boat, and Phil pulled
her into it. "I am so sorry, girls," she explained, shaking the water.
out of her hair; "but I had such a wonderful idea that it really
knocked me overboard. I was afraid I would throw you all into the
river, so I jumped. But don't you want to know my plan? We are going
to spend the summer on the water!"

"In the water, you mean, don't you?" laughed Phyllis, as she wrapped
her sweater about her friend. "Madge, will any one ever be able to
guess what you are going to do next?"

"Just listen, girls," Madge went on with shining eyes. "I have been
determined, ever since I got my letter from Cousin Louisa, that we
girls should do something original for our summer vacation. And while
I was rowing peacefully along, without meaning to create a disturbance,
it suddenly came to me that the most perfect way to spend a holiday
would be to live out on the water. First I thought we might just take
the 'Water Witch' and row along the river all summer, sleeping in
hotels and boarding-places at night. But I know we must have a
chaperon; and meals and things would make it cost too much. Then it
occurred to me that we could get a boat big enough to live in by day
and sleep in by night--a canal boat, or something----"

"Madge Morton!" cried Phil, clapping both hands, "you are a goose, but
sometimes I think you are a genius as well. You mean you can rent a
houseboat with your money and we can truly spend our vacation together
out on the water. I never heard of such a splendid plan in my life."

Madge gave a little shiver, half from the cold and half from happiness.
She was beginning to feel the chill of her wet clothing.