"Without me, or without Jack?" teased Cora. "Well, never mind, Bess, perhaps we can take turns. I am sure I would rather go to Lookout Beach and camp than to go to Europe and tramp--there I have made a rhyme, and will see my beau before nine. Pray, Bess, come indoors with me while I complexion. I have been motoring all morning, in this stiff breeze, and I feel as if my face will crack if I don't hurry to cream it. And then, that I am to see my beau----" The splendid color in Cora's cheeks belied her words. Nevertheless the girls went indoors, and, while Cora removed a surprising amount of grit on each piece of cotton she daubed her cheeks with, Bess had a better chance to talk over the plans for the summer at the seaside. Following her cream-wash Cora turned on her face the tiny spray of tepid water from her own little silver faucet in the corner, and then "feeling clean," as she expressed it, she just touched her cheeks and nose with another piece of cotton "to pat off the shine." "You know I have to go out again this afternoon, and I do find that it pays to keep in order. I suppose Belle would think this sort of fixing up not half thorough enough?" "Oh, she takes a regular Turkish when she has been out in a dusty wind," declared Bess. "But, for my part, I prefer a thick veil, in front of a cream setting. Then I catch all the dirt in the cream and only have to wash it off instead of----" "Washing it on. A good idea, Bess. But I can't breathe back of cream. It makes my lungs sticky," and Cora put a last touch to her heavy dark hair, just as her brother's voice was heard in the lower hallway. "There's Jack!" exclaimed both girls at once. "Let's tell him," suggested Bess, who was not always able to conceal her interest in Cora's handsome brother. "Oh, no, don't," whispered Cora, as Jack was almost at the door of the sitting room. "It will be a joke to plan it all out, and surprise the boys!" But Jack was actually tumbling into the room before he saw Bess. He, too, was evidently "too full of good news to keep!" "Oh, sis!" he yelled, still unconscious of the presence of Bess, "take my hand and squeeze it, or I shall 'bust.' It's too good to be true, and too good not to be true. We are going----" Then his eye fell upon Cora's visitor. Instantly and in a boy's inimitable way he "pulled himself together" and finished: "We are going down to the post-office this evening!" "Oh, is that all you were going to say?" asked Bess, in some disappointment, for it was evident that Jack had some news. "Well, not quite all," he replied with an air of mystery, "only I happened to hear certain peculiar whispers and admonitions as I was coming in, and I guess girls aren't the only ones who can keep a secret. I'll tell if you'll tell," he added. "We've nothing to tell; have we, Cora?" and Bess looked as innocent as possible. "How could you ever imagine such a thing, Jack?" inquired his sister.