that he had no
appetite for the afternoon tea which the others took before setting
forth.

At Anemone Cottage the party was received with acclaim. Miss Lacey's
cheeks had been very pink from the moment of discovering with her
spyglass a fourth figure in the boat; and Judge Trent had no cause to
complain of his supper.

The effervescent spirits which had this morning been Sylvia's seemed
now to have passed into her hostess, and the glad eagerness with which
the younger girl followed the other's mood was noted and appreciated by
Dunham, who, when he could catch Sylvia's eye, sent her reassuring
smiles, not one of which was lost upon Edna.

Sylvia almost persuaded herself that she had been imaginative and
unjust. Of course Edna had been too occupied in greeting Judge Trent
just now, and in caring for his comfort, to give her more than a
smiling nod of welcome on her arrival, but Edna's good cheer at the
supper table was charming, and each guest in his way showed response to
her mood.

"I've another day of my carpenters to-morrow," she said after a while,
"and I can't be sorry. They're great fun. I'm having the shed changed.
The architect had suggested a more acute angle than my carpenter liked.
I told Willis I thought he was improving on Mr. Lane's lines, and he
replied, with that delightful drawl, 'Ye-us, he had sech a quick
yank!'"

Another day of the carpenters! Sylvia was sorry to hear this, since it
occupied Edna; and yet, one more day alone on the shore! Ah, what joy,
if she could only escape Dunham and her uncle!

The evening was perfect, and when the party rose from the table they
gravitated as usual to the piazza.

"What a clear horizon!" said Edna. "The moon will be coming up in a few
minutes. Do you feel properly romantic, Judge Trent?"

"I feel the nearest approach to it that a man in my class ever does,"
he replied. "That was an excellent supper, Edna. If you'll show me the
way to the kitchen I could almost kiss the cook, if she would consider
it."

Miss Lacey was listening and bridling triumphantly behind a neighboring
pillar.

"You needn't go so far," rejoined Edna gayly. "Miss Lacey made that
dessert."

The judge was unperturbed, as he stood, his hands clasped behind him.
"In that case, Martha," he remarked, his impersonal gaze resting on the
shadowy distance, "please consider yourself chastely saluted."

"This evening demands music," said Edna. "I'll sing for you to-night,
John."

"Good