, little witch?"

"The grandest thing you ever knew. I'd have taken you up behind me if
I'd known what it was going to be. There's nothing like a bird's-eye
view of this region."

"What are you talking about, Sylvia?" asked Miss Martha.

"Why, I rode all over Casco Bay last night on a broomstick. It was like
visiting a wonderful picture gallery. There was a planet that cast a
path across the water as the moon sank. The headlands jutted out into
the waves, the cottages nestled among the trees. I went to the Mill
Farm and looked through Uncle Calvin's window and blew him a kiss as he
lay asleep."

"Did he have his hat on?" inquired Miss Martha, and John and Edna
laughed.

"Why didn't you bring home your clothes?" asked Edna.

"I did try to, but the broomstick bucked so when I tried to pass
through my window, I saw I should raise the household, and I didn't
want to startle them; so I raced away home again above the waves, while
all the stars sang together!"

"Have you been taking a foolish powder?" inquired Miss Martha, cutting
her beefsteak.

"You'll travel by wave to-day," remarked John. "I don't propose to go
over to the Tide Mill afoot and alone."

"After noon, then."

"Very well. Have it your own way. You'd get ducked less this morning,
though."

"Yes, but something might happen to keep us. We might not get back in
the afternoon."

"Why, she's just crazy about this place, Edna," remarked Miss Lacey.

Edna smiled with the grace of a gratified hostess, but she did not
raise her eyes. Sylvia was crazy about something, but what was it? She
seemed transformed from the quiet, intense, grateful girl whom
Thinkright brought to the island so recently.

As they rose from the table Sylvia eyed John curiously.

"I suppose you'll go pretty soon to see Benny about getting the boat
for this afternoon, won't you?" she asked.

"Yes," he rejoined. "You'd better come with me."

"No," her breath caught, and she flushed so deeply that he looked at
her in wonder. "I can't. I have something to do. I--you'd better go
soon, for he might take the boat off for the day, you know."

John hooked his thumbs in his trousers pockets and regarded her at ease
and at length.

"You're the guiltiest-looking being I ever saw," he remarked. "I
couldn't be retained to defend you unless you could contrive a
different expression. Now take the advice of one who knows, and don't
go near that bottle again this morning."

Sylvia gave a