that the tribute did not in any way take from Dorothy's other good
quality, that of being a refined and cultured girl.

"Girls don't have to be babies to be ladylike," added Bert. "Nan
always plays ball with me, and can skate and all that. She's not
afraid of a snowball, either."

"Well, I'm all alone," said Hal. "Haven't even got a first cousin.
We've been coming down here since I was a youngster, so that's why
Dorothy seems like my sister. We used to make mud pies together."

The boys were in the canoe now, and each took a paddle. The water was
so smooth that the paddles merely patted it, like "brushing a cat's
back," Bert said, and soon the little bark was gliding along down the
lake, in and out of the turns, until the "narrows" were reached.

"Here's where we get our pond lilies," said Hal.

"Oh, let's get some!" exclaimed Bert. "Mother is so fond of them."

It was not difficult to gather the beautiful blooms, that nested so
cosily on the cool waters, too fond of their cradle to ever want to
creep, or walk upon their slender green limbs. They just rocked
there, with every tiny ripple of the water, and only woke up to see
the warm sunlight bleaching their dainty, yellow heads.

"Aren't they fragrant?" said Bert, as he put one after the other into
the bottom of the canoe.

"There's nothing like them," declared Hal. "Some people like roses