Page:Stella Dallas, a novel (IA stelladallasnove00prou).pdf/224

214 Any of the other girls would have known how to respond in the bluff, hearty, good-comradeship style of the day. "Thanks, Dick," or, "Crazy to," or, "Sure I am," but Laurel hadn't acquired all the ways yet. "Am I?" she replied, in the same pleased surprised manner with which she met all attentions shown her.

"Yes, you are," he assured her quietly. He turned away.

"There! What did I say, Laurel Dallas?"

"I'll bet he picks a single canoe."

"He was here all last summer and never as much as looked at any of us younger girls."

All the boys were now busy among the canoes, loading them, rearranging the cushions and seat-backs, shoving the dainty little crafts up against the pier, ready for the girls to step into.

"All ready, Miss Dallas."

Laurel turned. Yes, Deborah was right! He had selected a single canoe! He stood up in it now as Laurel approached him. He reached up both hands toward her, the canoe drifting away a little from the wharf as he did so, Laurel placed her hands in his, and he swung her across the widening gap between them into the center of the luxurious nest of cushions he had arranged for her in the bottom of the canoe. She alighted in the frail little boat like a bird on a tender twig. There was something of the same birdlike adroitness in every motion that Laurel made.

Laurel had lost none of the peculiar woodsy quality of her charm in the last four years. Her freckles