"Humph," grunted Mollie, eyeing critically the trim little boat in which
they had had so much fun and adventure, as the other girls tumbled aboard.
"I'd say she didn't look very much like a fairy boat just now. She needs
considerable polishing and scrubbing. Why don't you girls get busy,
anyhow?"

"Just hear who's talking," yawned Grace, disposing herself lazily in a
comfortable chair on deck. "I haven't noticed you waving a broom and mop
frantically around these parts lately, Mollie dear."

"In fact," Betty added with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "I think I
remember suggesting that the Gem needed grooming the other day.
Whereupon some one who shall be nameless suggested a motor ride instead."

"She's got you there, old dear," drawled Grace, taking the inevitable box
of chocolates from her pocket and opening it lovingly. "I remember the
incident pre-zactly as it has been described."

Mollie, who was still standing on the dock, regarding them frowningly,
started to reply but Betty interrupted her with a shout. She had started
the engine and the boat began to move slowly away from the dock.

"Better hurry up," suggested the Little Captain wickedly. "We'd rather not
leave you behind, but if you insist--"

However, Mollie had not the slightest intention in the world of being left
behind. With a gasp of mingled surprise and dismay she made a jump for it,
cleared the foot of space between the dock and the boat and landed square
in the middle of Grace's astonished and outraged lap. She would have sat
on the candy box, too, and would, in all probability, have ruined it and