Part 19 (1/2)

”Beautiful, but foolish,” Mollie commented succinctly

”Do you really expect to swim in it, dear?” asked A,” suggested Betty judicially, her head on one side, ”if you cocked it just a little further over one eye so as to obscure the sight cohter

”Oh, you're all jealous,” remarked Grace, not at all disturbed as she turned back to the ly over her ear ”I ht have known you would be”

”Goodness, anybody would think she was at Pal her own plain little cap a trifle lower over her ears ”If you expect an audience, Gracie, I' to give you soood to look at--”

But they would hear no more and hustled her with scant ceremony away from the mirror and out of the door

”Co the stairs two at a ti nine to one on myself”

”Goodness, she's as conceited as you are, Gracie,” gasped Mollie, following hard on Betty's footsteps ”Here's my chance to take so at not quite such breakneck speed, caures with vivid red and green caps scra down the side of the bluff that led to the beach

As they started after thee of the bluff The slope was not quite so gentle as they had thought on the night before, and Mollie and Betty were puffing considerably when they reached the bottom--which they did at almost the same minute

Then, fleet-footed, they sped across the sand toward the inviting water beyond, while Mrs Ford, Grace, and Amy clambered down the bluff in their turn

At the bottoe at the sareen depths A ht and only two vivid caps bobbed on the surface of the water

”Do you suppose it's quite safe?” asked Mrs Ford ”I wish the girls hadn't been in such a hurry”

”Oh you needn't worry about theular fish in the water, and you know there aren't any radually down so that they can't get caught in water holes either, so don't worry, Mother,” and she slipped an affectionate hand into hersood that water did feel!

As they waded into it up to their waists, Mollie and Betty ca the water fro, powerful strokes

”Well, on?” A distance

”Tell the truth,” added Grace

”Both of us,” yelled Mollie

”Or neither,” Betty answered, getting to her feet and walking the rest of the way in toward them ”We couldn't have done better tealorious?”

”We don't know yet--we're not even all wet,” returned Mollie, adding, as a great co toward theet under it”