if to protect its owner from possible prostration from the sun. At the
opposite end of the young man the white trouser-legs were turned up at
least two laps higher than would have been expected, so that hat and
trousers together made a normal average. Below the turn-up of the
trousers showed a considerable expanse of white-silk hosiery,
terminating in spotless white buckskin shoes; below the down-turned
hat-brim was a grin which extended well across the boyish face.
Altogether, the young man warranted the attention he attracted.

The skipper made so perfect a landing that the identity of those on
board was disclosed only at the last moment; but the single glance the
young man had was sufficient to reassure him, and he stepped forward
eagerly.

"Hello, everybody!" he cried cheerfully. "Wish you Happy New-Year!"

Merry was the first to grasp the significance of the excitement. "Why,
it's Billy Huntington!" she exclaimed.

"Of course," he admitted, still grinning; "who else would charge down
here like a young dace just for the pleasure of wishing you the
compliments of the season?"

The young man paused long enough to assist the ladies over the rail,
with a greeting to each.

"There's your uncle," Merry said, nodding in the direction of the men;
"don't you recognize him?"

"Surest thing you know," Billy answered, still hanging back. "I'm
waiting to see if he will recognize me, under all the circumstances."

"Come here, you young rascal," Huntington responded to the implied
question as he stepped on the pier; "come here and give an account of
yourself."

"Well," Billy replied slowly, clinging to the extended hand as a refuge,
"you see I didn't know Mr. Cosden came down with you, and it was
vacation, and I thought you'd be awfully lonely here without me--"

"I see," his uncle said dryly; "it was all on my account."

Billy seemed to feel the necessity of further explanation. "Of course I
knew Merry--the Thatchers were here. Phil told me--"

"Too bad Philip couldn't have come with you," Mrs. Thatcher remarked.

"Yes; he went up to the Lawrences' house-party for over Christmas as he
planned."

"How did you leave your worthy parents?" Huntington inquired.

A look of dismay passed over the boy's face. "I forgot to telegraph them
from New York, and I meant to cable just as soon as I arrived." Then an
expression of relief came to his assistance: "But they'll know I'm with
you--somewhere."

Huntington sighed. "A