Clearly the young men had not resorted to this trick to scrape an
acquaintance with the girls.

"Is there anything else you'd like?" asked impulsive Mollie. "Grace
has plenty of candy, I think, and as for olives----" she tilted one
empty bottle, and smiled. Mr. Kennedy smiled back in a frank manner.
Betty decided that introductions would be in good form, since they had
learned that the young men were "perfectly proper."

Names were exchanged, and Mr. Kennedy and his friend sat down on the
grass. They did not seem in any special hurry about the salt, now that
it was offered.

"We hope you haven't changed your minds about the race and regatta,"
spoke Mr. Stone, after some generalities had been exchanged. "By the
way, I have the entry blanks for you," and he passed the papers to
Betty, who accepted them with murmured thanks.

"We shall very likely enter both the pageant and the race," she said.
"When do they take place?"

"The pageant will be held two nights hence. That will really open the
carnival. The boats, decorated as suit the fancies of the owners, will
form in line, and move about the lake, past the judges' stand. There
will be prizes for the most beautifully decorated boat, the oddest,
and also the worst, if you understand me. I mean by the last that some
captains have decided to make their boats look like wrecks, striving
after queer effects."

"I should not like that," said Betty, decidedly. "But if there is