"Why, Gladys Le Baron, this is a surprise!" gayly said Grace Carter next
afternoon, when the two parties of girls and men had left their
automobiles and had come aboard Governor Post's yacht, the "Penguin,"
that lay just outside the New London harbor.
Grace was awaiting her turn to be introduced to her host and hostess,
when she spied Gladys, in a pale blue flannel suit and a cream felt hat,
strolling down the deck, looking very much at home.
"How ever did _you_ get here?" queried Grace, smiling.
Gladys gave Grace's cheek an affected peck with her lips.
"I have a better right to ask that question of you," Gladys pouted,
"only I am not surprised. Harry Townsend came over from New London,
yesterday, and told me you had arrived the night before. He went over
with Hugh for the dance, but I didn't feel like going, so he came back
early yesterday morning. I am amazed Hugh did not speak of it to you."
"Oh, Mr. Post didn't know we had ever heard of Harry Townsend, or you
either. We met most unexpectedly, and we had plenty of excitement of our
own. I must tell you about it."
At this moment, Hugh came over for Grace to introduce her to his mother.
"This is Miss Carter, mother," he said. "Will you introduce her to Mrs.
Erwin and father? She seems to know Gladys already."
Harry Townsend had seen the newcomers, and came forward to speak to them
with his most charming manner.
"Say, Townsend," challenged Hugh, "what made you run away from us? We
thought, of course, you'd stay over for the dance. Thought that was your
plan in going over to New Haven."
Harry turned to Miss Stuart. "I heard of your arrival in New Haven, the
other evening," he said. "The fellows told me of your experiences; but I
got away from the hotel too early next morning to pay my respects."
"Then you didn't hear of the burglar, did you?" queried Hugh.
In spite of Miss Sallie's protestations the whole story had to be gone
over again.
Barbara was talking to Ralph Ewing and had not looked at Harry Townsend
during the conversation, until he came over to speak to her.
"I have half an idea, Miss Thurston," he said, "that you do not like me,
and I am sorry. I was looking forward to our having good times together
at Newport, as I am to be Mrs. Erwin's guest, with your cousin Miss Le
Baron. Mrs. Post asked us on for the yacht trip a day or two sooner than
we expected. We are all going up to Newport together."
"Mr. Townsend," said Barbara, her usually laughing, brown eyes now
steadfast and serious, "I wonder why you think I do not like you?"
"Miss Stuart," begged Mrs. Post, after the governor had conducted the
party over his trim little craft, "you must stay and dine with us on
board the yacht to-night. I refuse to take no for an answer. I wish I
could keep you over until morning, but unfortunately the yacht is too
small."
Miss Sallie protested. No; they couldn't think of it. They had come
aboard only for a call, and must get back to their hotel before night.
But Hugh swept all her arguments aside. He was an adored only son, and
accustomed to having his own way. To tell the truth, Miss Sallie was not
averse to the idea of staying; it was pleasant to be meeting Newporters
in advance. Miss Stuart was a woman who thought much of appearances, and
of this world's goods, and their new acquaintances seemed to have plenty
of both.
"It's an ill wind," she thought to herself, "and I must say, for my
young niece, that she has a habit of falling on her feet."
But aloud Miss Sallie accepted the invitation with much decorum.
On the deck aft, where the young people had gathered, there was much
laughter.
Gladys was really pleased to see Ruth. As for her cousins, they were a
bore, but she had no idea of being openly rude to them. She simply meant
to ignore them.
It was not easy to disregard two such popular girls. Barbara and Mollie
seemed to be well able to get on without her patronage. Barbara was
already smiling and chattering with Governor Post, while the boys
described her mad ride of two days before.
"Father," said Hugh, "I forgot to introduce you to Miss Thurston by her
proper title, 'Miss Paul Revere.'"
"Harry," asked Gladys, as they stood on the outside of the circle,
"don't you think it is disgusting the way that forward cousin of mine
always manages to put herself before the public?"
"Well," said Mr. Townsend--was there a little admiration in his
tone?--"she seems to have plenty of grit."
It was really Mollie, not Barbara, who saw through Gladys's treatment of
them. Barbara was too open-hearted and boyish to notice a slight, unless
it was very marked.
Gladys had asked Ruth and Grace to her stateroom, and Mrs. Post had put
the other two girls into her unoccupied guest chamber. It was a little
gem of a stateroom, upholstered in pale green to relieve the glare from
the water.
"Bab," Mollie chuckled, rubbing her cheeks until they were pink, "do you
remember the story of 'The Water Baby'?"
"Yes," Bab answered absently; "I do, after a fashion. But why do you
ask? You haven't turned into a water baby, have you, just because you
are on board a yacht for the first time in your life?"
"No," laughed Mollie. "I was thinking of the story in it of the salmon
and the trout. Have you forgotten it?"
"Of course I have," admitted Barbara.
Mollie chuckled gleefully. "Our high and mighty cousin, Gladys, reminds
me very much of the salmon, who thought the trout a very common fish,
and disliked him all the more because he was a relation. Feel like a
trout, Bab?"
"Not at all, Mollie; but do hurry and go out on deck. That young
freshman, who came down in the automobile with us to amuse you, is
wandering around outside, looking frightened to death. You must go and
talk to him."
As Barbara stepped into the big salon, which was fitted up like a
library, she saw one of the young men disappear quickly through the open
door. Bab went over to their wraps, which they had dropped in a heap on
a couch when they boarded the yacht, and selected her own jacket. Ruth's
pocketbook was in full view among their belongings, and Bab covered it
over before she went on deck.
Before dinner ended the moon had risen, the pale crescent hanging like a
slender jewel in the sky.
Barbara was standing alone, for a second, when Mrs. Erwin approached
her.
"Pardon me, dear," she said, "but did you or your sister see a small pin
on the dressing table of the guest room, when you went in there before
dinner? I have misplaced a ruby and diamond circle of no great value. I
went into the guest chamber this morning, while the maid was cleaning my
room, and I thought perhaps I had laid it down in there."
"No," said Bab, frowning. It did seem curious how losses were following
them! "I didn't look, although it was probably there. I am most
unobservant. I will ask my sister."
"No, no," said Mrs. Erwin, hastily; "please don't. I shall probably find
it again. I don't want Mrs. Post to hear."
The next morning, when Grace and Ruth were donning their best motor
veils and coats, Ruth suddenly looked surprised and began to search
hurriedly through her pocketbook.
"Grace," she said, "I can't find fifty dollars. I am sure I had it
yesterday, because I looked carefully after that wretched burglar had
gone, though I knew all my money was safe in my trunk. Now it's gone!"
Ruth turned her pocketbook upside down. "Don't tell Aunt Sallie,
please," she begged. "I don't know what she would say to have this item
added to our adventures."
Miss Sallie's voice was heard calling from the next room.
"Girls, are we or are we not, going to Newport to-day? I, for my part,
wish to spend no more time on the way!"