books and papers, a box of chocolates occupying the place of honor.

"Of course there are some left," answered Grace.

"Which is a wonder!" exclaimed Will, as he hurried out of the room
before his sister could properly punish him.

"Will we wear our sailor costumes all the while?" asked Betty, for the
girls, as soon as the cruise in the Gem had been decided on, had had
suits made on the sailor pattern, with some distinctive changes
according to their own ideas. Betty had been informally named
"Captain," a title with which she was already more or less familiar.

"Well, of course we'll wear our sailors-- middy blouses and all--
while we're aboard-- ahem!" exclaimed Betty, with exaggerated
emphasis. "Notice my sea terms," she directed.

"Oh, you are getting to be a regular sailor," said Mollie. "I've got a
book home with a lot of sea words in. I'm going to learn them, and
also how to tie sailor knots."

"Then maybe your shoe laces won't come undone so easily," challenged
Grace, and she thrust out her own dainty shoe, and tapped the patent
leather tip of Mollie's tie.

"It is not!" came indignantly from Billy.

"It is loose, and it may trip you," advised Amy, and Mollie,
relinquishing a candy she had selected with care, bent over. The
moment she did so Grace appropriated the Sweetmeat.