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 on it. When they reached the boiler-room he added the mysterious word "coal scuttle" to several other words already on the paper.

In due course they all returned to the cabin and sat or stood around and did a good deal of talking and exclaiming and laughing until, at last, Mrs. Deane jumped up suddenly and announced in a shocked voice that she must get right back and that she didn't know what Miss Billings would be thinking of her! That began a general exodus. Polly said that she and Mae would be down after supper to see if everything was all right. She had already offered to remain during the afternoon, but Miss Comfort had almost pathetically declined the offer. Miss Comfort, as was evident to all, wanted to be left quite alone for a while.

"You're sure you won't be nervous at night," asked Mrs. Deane anxiously, "all alone here like this."

"Nervous?" repeated Miss Comfort placidly. "Not a bit. No more than I was in that empty house up there. I never was one of the scary kind, and down here, with the friendly water around me, I'll never be lonesome again."