."

"It won't take us long," he said, easily, and presently they were purring
up-stream.

Then all at once the motor stopped. Geoffrey, inspecting it with a
flashlight, said, succinctly, "Engine's on the blink."

"You mean that we can't go on?"

"Oh, I'll tinker it up. Only you'll have to let me get into that box
under the stern seat for the tools. You can hold the light while I work."

As he worked they drifted. They passed the second bridge. Anne, steering,
grew cold and shivered. But she did not complain. She was glad, however,
when Geoffrey said, "You'd better curl down among the cushions, and let
me wrap you in this rug."

"Can you manage without me?"

"Yes. I've patched it up partially. And you'll freeze in this bitter
air."

The wind had changed and there was now no moon. She was glad of the
warmth of the rug and the comfort of the cushioned space. She shut her
eyes, after a time, and, worn out by the emotions of the day, she dropped
into fitful slumber.

Then Geoffrey, his hair blown back by the wind, stood at the wheel and
steered his boat not up-stream toward the bridge at Bower's, but straight
down toward the wider waters, where the river stretches out into the
Bay.

CHAPTER XII

_In Which Eve Usurps an Ancient Masculine Privilege._

AUNT MAUDE CHESLEY belonged to the various patriotic societies which are
dependent on Revolutionary fighting blood, on Dutch forbears, or on the
ancestral holding of Colonial office. The last stood highest in her
esteem. It was the hardest to get into, hence there was about it the
sanctity of exclusiveness. Any man might spill his blood for his country,
and among those early Hollanders were many whose blood was red instead of
blue, but it was only a choice few who in the early days of the country's
history had been appointed by the Crown or elected by the people to
positions of influence and of authority.

When Aunt Maude went to the meeting of her favorite organization, she
wore always black velvet which showed the rounds of her shoulders, point
lace in a deep bertha, the family diamonds, and all of her badges. The
badges had bars and jewels, and the effect was imposing.

Evelyn laughed at her. "Nobody cares for ancestors any more. Not since
people began to hunt them up. You can find anything if you look for it,
Aunt Maude. And most of the crests are bought or borrowed so that if one
really belongs to you, you don't like to speak of it, any more than to