The Loon found a comfortable home with one of Mr. Hammond's workers, and made himself very useful about the orange grove. He could not do enough for the girls, or for Will and Tom, the latter two becoming fast chums, as they had been companions in misery.
"And to think that soon we will have to leave this lovely place," said Grace one day, when they had come back from a long trip on the river in the Gem. "It is perfect here."
"It is," agreed Mollie, "but do you know I am rather lonesome for the sight of a snowball, or an icicle."
"Mollie Billette!" cried Amy.
"Well, I am! Too much loveliness palls on one after a bit. Of course it's lovely here, Amy, but we are Northern girls, and one winter in the South can't change us."
"Well, we have certainly had some strange adventures here," remarked Betty, as she swung her boat up to the dock.
"And with all the orange blossoms, none of us has worn any yet," remarked Grace, laughing.
"Oh, I don't know," said Mollie, with a mischievous look at Betty. "I think some of us have a chance. I saw Tom Osborne out in the moonlight with you last night, Grace."
"You did not!"
