uess you do feel pretty bad about it," said the boy. "Diamonds are
valuable and if anybody found the pin it might be a temptation to keep
it, especially if it wasn't known who it belonged to. We're pretty
honest about here and I guess the Green Island people are, too, so, if
it's found, I guess you'll get it again as soon as it's known who lost
it."

"I've looked and looked all the way from here to the landing," said
Mary disconsolately, "and I don't believe it is here. I do wish I
could get over to Green Island somehow."

"Why, it's easy enough to get there," said the boy. "Us boys go over
often to pick berries, or sell lobsters to the hotel. I'll row you
over in my brother Parker's boat; I know he'll let me have it."

"Oh, how very kind! I would be so relieved. It is most kind of you to
offer to take me. Could we go now, before the others get back?"

"Why, I guess so. You come on with me and I'll see. Park's down to
the fish-house, and I know he won't be using the boat to-day. You know
who I am, don't you? I live in that yellow house just this side
Hobbs's store, and I'm Park Dixon's brother Ellis. I'm going
lobstering next year; I'm big enough."

Mary looked him over. He was not very big, she thought, but she did
not know just what was the necessary size for one to reach in order to
go lobstering, yet it seemed rather to place him in a position to be a
safe guide, and she was glad he had told her. "I'm sure," she said
following out her thought, "that you're quite big enough to take me."

"Of course I am," he said. "I've sot over quite a lot of people to
Green's Island. I sot over a man last week."

Mary hesitated before she asked, "If you please, what is sot over?"

"Why, row 'em over. If you don't take the steamboat there ain't no
other way than to be sot over, you see."

"Oh, I see. Thank you. Shall we go to the fish-house now?"

"Why, yes, or you can wait here if you'd rather."

Upon considering, Mary concluded it would be more satisfactory to go,
for perhaps Ellis might give her the slip, or, if the big brother
objected, she might add her persuasions to Ellis's and so clinch the
matter. Yet while she stood waiting for Ellis to make his request for
the boat, she had many compunctions of conscience. She had never
before done so bold and desperate a thing. She had scarcely ever
appeared on the street without her governess, and indeed it was the
strict measures of this same governes