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168 sufficient practice, Mr. Pierson thought, since, after all, it was a matter of the stroke, and could be acquired in one craft as well as in another.

Meanwhile, a little scene was taking place near the Tyler cottage, that, had our friends beheld it—or, rather one of our friends in particular—might have caused some trouble.

The girls were kept busy with some light housework, helping Mrs. Tyler and the maid, after the boys left. Then, having put their rooms in order they attired themselves in fresh gowns and walked off toward the water. Near the cottage Boswell occupied, the four young ladies met the rich lad and his English chum. The two were out for a walk, and, as the youths stopped to chat for a moment with Madge, whom they had met formally, she could do no less than halt a moment with the other girls, who had been introduced to the lads.

"Come down and I'll take you out in my launch," invited Boswell. "I've just got a new one, and it's quite fast."

"Oh, come on!" cried Ruth, impulsively. "That one Phil and the boys have is so slow, and something is always happening to it."

"My word! I should say so!" laughed Pierce.

"But we declined an invitation to go out with—our boys," said Mabel Harrison, in a low voice. "

"Oh, well," spoke Ruth. "They had to go to