"Can't do it," said Nan; "I have two more letters to write, and then I'm going driving with the Perrys. They're to call for me at four o'clock, and it's after three now. You'll have to go without me this time." "All right," said Patty, backing out of the room, for her eyes were still fixed on the wonderful wig. Then she rejoined her cousins, and they all ran to the bath-houses. They had a fine bath, and were about ready to come out of the water when Nan appeared. She was dressed in a fresh white pique suit, with blue ribbons at her throat and belt, and was looking very pretty but decidedly disappointed. She walked out to the end of the narrow wooden pier, and the swimmers came up to talk to her. Patty didn't swim very well as yet, but she was learning, and Uncle Ted and Bob said she was getting along finely. "I thought you were going out with the Perrys," cried Bumble. "I was,--" said Nan, "but they didn't come. I've been dressed and waiting for them half an hour, then I looked again at the note they sent me, and I made a mistake; it's to-morrow they asked me to go. So I came down here, and I wish I was in the water with you." "Come on in," said Bob. "Too much trouble to get into my bathing-suit." "Don't do it," said Bumble; "we're coming out now, anyway. But the water is fine, to-day, isn't it, Patty?" "Glorious!" gurgled Patty, as she floundered about in her frantic endeavors to swim. Suddenly, Nan snatched off her wig, and dropped it down on the dock. Then with dramatic gestures, she wrung her hands, waved them above her head, and cried out in agonized tones: "I am desperate! No longer can I bear this sad and weary life. I _will_ end it!" Apparently in the last stages of despair, she strode to the end of the dock, and threw herself headlong into the water. Patty was aghast, but Bob and Bumble were accustomed to Nan's mad tricks, and they shouted with laughter. In a moment the bald head reappeared above the water, for Nan could dive and swim wonderfully well. "I'm afraid my dress will get wet," she said, "but when I saw you all having such fun, I just couldn't help jumping in." "Crazy Nan," said Bumble, "you've spoiled your clean dress, and you can't swim with your shoes on, anyway, can you?" "Not very well," said Nan, regretfully, "and they're my best shoes, too. But I don't care; I'll get a bath and have some fun." Later on, the four young people, much refreshed and exhilarated, assembled in the music-room to wait for dinner. Aunt Grace, whose sprained ankle was getting better, and who could now limp around with the aid of a crutch, was there too. "Geranium Blossom! but I'm hungry," exclaimed Bob. "Mumsey, do you s'pose we're going to have any dinner to-night?" "I think so, my boy," returned Mrs. Barlow, placidly, "but go and get a biscuit if you'd like one." "I'll tell you what," said Nan, "let's have tea while we wait. There'll be plenty of time, for Eunice has just begun to lay the table for dinner."