gly backed Gerald and Boots in the new motor-boat--the
_Blue Streak_--Austin's contribution to the Silverside navy.

And sure enough, at last a blue rocket soared aloft, bursting into azure
magnificence in the zenith; and Gerald and Boots came climbing up to the
lawn to receive prize and compliments, and hasten away to change their
oilskins for attire more suitable.

Eileen, turning to Selwyn, held up her booking list in laughing dismay:
"I've won about a ton of bonbons," she said, "and too many pairs of
gloves to feel quite comfortable."

"You needn't wear them all at once, you know," he assured her.

"Nonsense! I mean that I don't care to win things. Oh!"--and she laid
her hand impulsively on his arm as a huge sheaf of rockets roared
skyward, apparently from the water.

Then, suddenly, Neergard's yacht sprang into view, outlined in
electricity from stem to stern, every spar and funnel and contour of
hull and superstructure twinkling in jewelled brilliancy.

On a great improvised open pavilion set up in the Hither Woods,
garlanded and hung thick with multi-coloured paper lanterns, dancing had
already begun; but Selwyn and Eileen lingered on the lawn for a while,
fascinated by the beauty of the fireworks pouring skyward from the
_Niobrara_.

"They seem to be very gay aboard her," murmured the girl. "Once you said
that you did not like Mr. Neergard. Do you remember saying it?"

He replied simply, "I don't like him; and I remember saying so."

"It is strange," she said, "that Gerald does."

Selwyn looked at the illuminated yacht. . . . "I wonder whether any of
Neergard's crowd is expected ashore here. Do you happen to know?"

She did not know. A moment later, to his annoyance, Edgerton Lawn came
up and asked her to dance; and she went with a smile and a whispered:
"Wait for me--if you don't mind. I'll come back to you."

It was all very well to wait for her--and even to dance with her after
that; but there appeared to be no peace for him in prospect, for Scott
Innis came and took her away, and Gladys Orchil offered herself to him
very prettily, and took him away; and after that, to his perplexity and
consternation, a perfect furor for him seemed to set in and grow among
the younger set, and the Minster twins had him, and Hilda Innis
appropriated him, and Evelyn Cardwell, and even Mrs. Delmour-Carnes took
a hand in the badgering.

At intervals he caught glimpses of Eileen through the gay crush around
him; he