n blurted out the story of the skating frolic,
Ruth said "she would see" about going; she said she wasn't sure that
she would care to go.

"I'm such a new skater, you know," she laughed. "Maybe I'd break down
skating out to the steamboat, and wouldn't get there, and while all you
folks were eating that nice hot lunch I'd be freezing to death--poor
little me!--'way out there on the ice."

But Mercy, with her head on one side and her sharp blue eyes looking
from Helen to Ruth, shot out:

"Now, don't you think you're smart, Ruth Fielding? Why, I can see
right through you--just as though you were a rag of torn mosquito
netting! You won't go because I'll be left alone."

"No," said Ruth, but flushing.

"Yes," shot back Mercy. "And _I_ don't have to turn red about it,
either. Oh, Ruthie, Ruthie! you can't even tell a _white one_ without
blushing about it."

"I--don't--know----"

"I do know!" declared Mercy. "You're going. I've got plenty to do.
You girls can go on and freeze your noses and your toeses, if you like.
Me for the steam-heated room and a box of bonbons. But I hope the
girls who go will be nicer to you than some of those Upedes have been
lately, Ruthie."

Helen blushed now; but Ruth hastened to say: "Oh, don't you fuss about
me, Mercy. Some of the Sweetbriars mean to go. This isn't confined to
one club in particular. Madge Steele is going, too, and Miss Polk.
And Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Tellingham's first assistant, is going with the
party. I heard all about it at supper. Poor Heavy was full of it; but
she says she can't go because she never could skate so far. And
then--the ice might break under _her_."

"Whisper!" added Helen, her eyes dancing. "I'll tell you something
else--and this I know you don't know!"

"What is it?"

"Maybe Tom will be there. Good old Tom! Just think--I haven't seen
him since we left home. Won't it be just scrumptious to see old Tom
again?"

And Ruth Fielding really thought it would be.

CHAPTER XX

AT TRITON LAKE

So on the morning following the feast-day there were two wagonettes
waiting at the entrance to the Briarwood grounds to take the girls two
miles by road to a certain boathouse on Triton Lake. When Ruth and
Helen came out of their room, leaving Mercy cozily ensconced in the
window-seat with her books and the box of bonbons, the door of the
quartette was open and a faint groan sounded from within.

Helen's eyes twinkled, as she said: "The