into her place as a member of the little houseboat
family as quietly as though she had always been a part of it. She was
shy and gentle, and rarely talked. She was more like a timid child
than a woman. She liked to cook, to wash the dishes, to do the things
to which she was accustomed, and to be left alone. At first the
houseboat girls tried to interest her in their amusements, but Miss
Jenny Ann persuaded them that it was wiser to let Mollie become
accustomed to the change in her life in any way she could. Mollie
never spoke of the past, and she seemed worried if any one of the girls
questioned her about it. They did not even know whether she feared the
return of Captain Mike or Bill. The girls hoped that Mollie's lack of
memory had made her quickly forget her unhappy life.

One thing haunted Mollie: it was her fear of strangers. If a visitor
came aboard the houseboat the young girl would disappear and hide in
the cabin until there was no danger of her being noticed. Jack Bolling
and Tom Curtis came calling nearly every day, but neither one of them
had seen anything of Mollie, except her flying skirts as she ran away
to hide from them. They were vaguely aware of her unusual beauty, but
neither of them knew what she actually looked like.

Madge was particularly sorry that Mollie would not see Mrs. Curtis.
The houseboat holiday could only last a short time longer. Mr. and
Mrs. Butler had written that they expected to return from California in
about ten days, and must have Madge and Eleanor back at "Forest House."
Lillian's and Phil's parents were also clamoring for their girls to
spend a part of their summer vacation at home. So the question must
soon arise: What could be done with Mollie when the crew of the "Merry
Maid" disbanded? Madge felt they needed their friend's advice. But
neither Mrs. Curtis nor Miss Jenny Ann thought it best to force Mollie
to see people until she became more used to the atmosphere of affection
about her, and had learned that no one meant to harm or ill treat her.
Once Mrs. Curtis caught a brief glimpse of Mollie, standing framed in
the cabin doorway. The girl had given a frightened stare at her, and
then had fled inside her room. She could not be coaxed out again.
Mrs. Curtis was curious. The one quick look at Mollie seemed oddly to
recall some friend of her youth. It was nothing to think of seriously.
She would know better when she saw the girl another time.

Daily Mrs.