furnished all in white, with dainty muslin curtains hung at the tiny
cabin windows. Flowers encircled the decks and trailed over the sides
into the clear water. And on the deck of the little boat, lying or
sitting at their ease, she could see herself and her friends.

"Wake up, Phil! Come back to earth, please," teased Madge, giving her
usually sensible friend a sudden pinch. "I am going downstairs now to
ask Miss Tolliver if we can go into Baltimore day after to-morrow. We
must find our houseboat at once. School is so nearly over Miss
Tolliver will be sure to let us go."

"But the chaperon, Madge," reminded Eleanor. "We haven't decided on
one, you know."

"I have thought of a chaperon, if you girls are willing to have her,"
said Madge almost hesitatingly.

"Well," cried the other three voices in chorus, "who is it? Tell us
sometime to-day!"

"Miss Jones!" declared Madge, a note of defiance in her voice. "I'm
going to invite her now before I have time to change my mind. I'll
explain later." Springing from her chair, she ran from the room,
leaving her three friends to stare at each other in silent amazement.




CHAPTER III