a balloon."

"Well, but it was sunset on the water, too," persisted Molly. "The sea
was just as colorful as the sky."

"When anybody coins words like that I'm ready for bed," said Uncle
Dick. And Mary, feeling that the subject of the afternoon's doings was
exhausted, drew a breath of relief.

The three cousins played together most amicably all the next morning.
In Mary's breast hope was high, for might not Ellis appear at any time
with the pin? She counted much on that notice in the Green Island
post-office. She was brighter than she had been for days so that Molly
confided to Polly: "She seems more like us."

"I'm beginning to like her real well," admitted Polly. "She isn't so
stiff as she was at first."

"I suppose her Englishism is wearing off," returned Molly.

But that afternoon when she returned from the post-office, whither she
had gone for her Aunt Ada, she beckoned to Polly who was playing jacks
with Mary. They had a set of jackstones which they had collected
themselves from the pebbles on the beach, and the place was much more
interesting because of them.

"What do you want?" asked Polly following Molly into the house. "Are
there any letters for me?"

"No," said Molly, "but just wait a minute and I'll tell you. I must
take Aunt Ada her mail first." Her manner was mysterious and Polly
wondered what mighty secret she had to disclose.

"Let's go down to the rocks, to the lion's den," proposed Molly when
she came back into the room. "We'd better go around by the back way."

Polly looked surprised. "Why? What for?"

"I've something to tell you and I don't want any one to bear. You will
scarcely believe it, Polly, and I'm sure I don't know what to do about
it."

"Oh, dear, what can it be?" said Polly. "Is it anything about Luella?
Is she going to leave?"

"Oh, dear, no. It is about some one much nearer than Luella."

They avoided being seen from the front of the house till they were well
away, and then they ran down to the rocks and settled themselves out of
sight below one of the great ledges.

"Now tell," said Polly, all curiosity.

"You must promise not to breathe a word."

"I promise on my sacred word and honor."

"Well then; it is about Mary."

"Mary! Oh, Molly!"

"Yes, what do you think? She wasn't at the Whartons' at all yesterday
afternoon."

Polly looked as astonished as Molly expected, though she said, after a
pause: "Well she never said she was."

"She let u