"Which means that I must become like a tree in Spring," sighed Will.
"How is that?" asked Amy. "Is it a riddle?"
"He means he must leave—that's an old one," mocked Mollie. "Any candy left, Grace?" and Mollie, who had been artistically posing on a divan, crossed the room to where Grace sat near a table strewn with books and papers, a box of chocolates occupying the place of honor.
"Of course there are some left," answered Grace.
"Which is a wonder!" exclaimed Will, as he hurried out of the room before his sister could properly punish him.
"Will we wear our sailor costumes all the while?" asked Betty, for the girls, as soon as the cruise in the Gem had been decided on, had had suits made on the sailor pattern, with some distinctive changes according to their own ideas. Betty had been informally named "Captain," a title with which she was already more or less familiar.
"Well, of course we'll wear our sailors—middy blouses and all—while we're aboard—ahem!" exclaimed Betty, with exaggerated emphasis. "Notice my sea terms," she directed.
"Oh, you are getting to be a regular sailor,"
