On the lake steamer they had fallen in with a Mr. Harcourt, a young man from the East whose home had once been in Michigan, and who after an illness had been remanded by his physician to that invigorating, health-giving region of balsams and cedars for a two-months' rest. He had made himself useful to Mrs. Pennybacker in the matter of baggage just as they were starting, and he came around after they were well out on the lake courteously solicitous of her comfort. He was introduced to the girls, and took some pains to interest the child, who showed an instant liking to him. He did not intrude himself upon them, but came back up from time to time to point out a boat in sight, or to show Philip the gulls which at dinner time followed fast and furious in their wake. Finally, with Mrs. De Jarnette's permission, he took the child off to investigate the boat, saying enthusiastically when he returned after an hour, "I never saw a girl show so much interest in everything. Why, she was as intent upon finding out what made the engine go as a boy would have been.... Yes, I understand children--I have nephews and nieces." Margaret had taken Philip aside after this and held an earnest conversation with him, at the end of which the child nodded several times, not very joyously,--which all goes to show the benumbing influence upon the human mind of feminine attire--and exactly how it works. A friendship begun on shipboard culminates rapidly, especially when it is under the fostering influence of a child and a sensible elderly lady who is sure she cannot be deceived in men. By the time these travelers reached their desired haven they seemed like old friends. It was undeniable that Mr. Harcourt had contributed more than his share to the pleasure of the trip. Mrs. Pennybacker, for one, began to think with regret of the time when he would leave them--a thing that Mr. Harcourt had by this time no intention of doing. "Well, we are almost there now," he said, coming upon them as they stood in the bow watching the Island grow in distinctness of detail. "Did you ever see anything finer than that?" And certainly for beauty of approach the Island of Mackinac is without a rival. "Have you decided on your hotel yet, Mrs. Pennybacker?" he asked, a moment later. "Yes, we've looked it up a little and think we shall go to the Island House. They say that is near where Anne lived, and we thought we would like that." "How fortunate I am," he exclaimed with instant choice. "That's where I'm going myself." Bess looked away toward Round Island with slightly heightened color. It was in this very natural way that he attached himself to their party. It proved pleasant for them all. With the child he was prime favorite. He asked Bess one day what her real name was, and Bess, forgetting that Philippa had been the name agreed upon in case the question were ever asked, and remembering Varnum, had answered with some confusion that she was named after her mother.