“I guess they’re all pretty risky, those pleasure boats,” answered Aunt Wess’. “My word, you couldn’t get me to set foot on one.”

Jadwin nodded his head at Laura, his eyes twinkling.

“Well, we’ll leave ’em all at home, Laura, when we go,” he said.

A little later one of Page’s young men called to see her, and Page took him off into the drawing-room across the hall. Mrs. Wessels seized upon the occasion to slip away unobserved, and Laura and Jadwin were left alone.

“Well, my girl,” began Jadwin, “how’s the day gone with you?”