Carthy, wishes to make an
announcement," she said, then sat down.

Jane's father got up, his face very red, his forehead glistening with
beads of perspiration.

"Your guest and good friend most emphatically _does not_ wish to make
an announcement," declared the visitor. "But it is up to him to do so
because he wishes to please that fine woman, your Chief Guardian--is
that what you call yourself, Mrs. Livingston? I get all mixed up with
various names and titles. It's as bad as attending a reception of the
royal family, judging from what I've heard."

Mrs. Livingston nodded, smiling good-naturedly.

"Well, girls, you know I've got to do something to furnish that mad-cap
daughter of mine with a variety of means of ending her life and those
of her friends. She has exhausted everything thus far. However, this
is a perfectly safe proposition, this one that I have planned for you
and her, and I don't think any of you can get into serious difficulty
through it."

"Don't keep us in suspense, Dad! Tommy will suffocate if you don't
tell us now. She has been holding her breath ever since you began
speaking," cried Jane.

A ripple of laughter ran along both sides of the table, but quickly
subsided when Mr. McCarthy again began speaking.

"Very good, if you must know. But--I say, Mrs. Livingston, I think we
won't tell them until to-morrow. As I think it over, I guess I won't
tell them after all. They'll know all about it when it gets here.
That's all." Mr. McCarthy sat down, wiping his forehead and looking
vastly relieved.

A chorus of "Ohs!" greeted the announcement. "Please, please tell us,
oh, do," they begged, but the visitor shook his head.

"I think, Mr. McCarthy, that I had better tell them if you do not wish
to. They will be too much upset otherwise," said the Chief Guardian.
"Have I your permission?"

He nodded.

"As you wish. They've got me so flustered that I couldn't say another
word to them."

"Very good. Listen, girls, and I will tell you," said the Chief
Guardian.

CHAPTER XVII

WHEN THEIR SHIP CAME IN

There was no need to further impose silence on the Camp Girls.
Eager-eyed, they leaned forward, gazing straight at the smiling woman
at the head of the table.

"I wanted Mr. McCarthy to tell you. However, as he refuses, I shall do
so. You are to have a boat for the rest of the summer. The boat is the
gift of Mr. McCarthy to the Meadow-Brook Girls directly, and to the
rest of you indirectl