"I'm not so sure that I can go," Esther Ballard said ruefully. "My father is not a Wall Street magnate as is your father, Jane, and $100 a month may seem a good deal to him, following so closely the vast sum that he has had to spend on my four years' tuition at Highacres." "Nonsense," Jane flashed at their youngest. "You are the idol of your artist-father's existence. He'd give you anything you needed to make you happy." Then, before Esther could voice her retort, the older girl had continued: "As for me, I shall need an additional $500 for clothes. Since we are going to so fashionable a place, we ought to have the smartest and latest summer styles from Paris. Let's all make note of the wardrobe we'd like to take." Out came four small leather notebooks and with tiny pencils suspended above them, the girls thought for a moment. Then Merry scribbled something as she remarked, "My first is a bathing suit. Green, the color mermaids wear." "Mine shall be cherry colored. It best suits my style of beauty," Jane said complacently. "You surely do look peachy in it," Barbara remarked admirably. "It doesn't matter what I put on, my squint and my freckled pug nose spoil it all." "Oh, you're not so bad!" Esther said generously. "I heard one of the cadets at our closing dance say that he thought your squint was adorable." "Lead me to him!" Barbara jumped up as though about to start in search of her unknown admirer, but sank back again when she recalled that she was on a steamer which was chugging down the Hudson at its best speed. "Do be serious, girls. See, I've made out a long list of things that I shall need." Jane held up her notebook for inspection. But Esther closed hers and replaced it in her natty alligator traveling bag. "I'll select my wardrobe after I have had my father's consent," she said. "You might as well stop planning now, Jane, as we are nearly to the Battery." Esther was right and in another five moments all was confusion on the small steamer. When they had safely crossed the gang plank, Merry detained them long enough to say, "Girls, before we part, let's plan to meet at my home next Friday. Since you will all have to travel so far, suppose you come early and stay to lunch. Then we can make our final plans. How I do hope that we can all go." "I know that I can," Jane replied confidently. "I always do as I wish, and nothing could induce me to spend another summer with my young brother and sister. They're so boisterous and bothersome. As for Dan, he's so eager to make high grades at college that he always is deep in a book." "Why Jane Abbott," rebuked Esther. "I think your little sister is adorable. I'd give anything if I were not an only child." Jane merely shrugged. "Au revoir," she called over her shoulder. "I've got to catch the ferry." CHAPTER II. THE MOST SELFISH GIRL