The following day dawned bright. Edna regarded the extraordinary light in Sylvia's eyes and her unwonted gayety of manner at the breakfast-table with mental questioning. "The most annoying thing has occurred," she said. "This day of all days the carpenters for whom I've been waiting all summer have turned up. I shan't be able to leave home. Could you people wait until to-morrow to go over to the farm?" "I'm afraid not," returned John. "I must go and report, as well as make myself more presentable. Who knows what to-morrow may be like? As probably as not Neptune will be throwing snowballs in all directions." "And when he does, Edna sings!" exclaimed Sylvia, turning her vital, sparkling gaze on her hostess. "You'd better hope he does;--but not to-day, not to-day!" Her voice dropped to a low, exultant note, and then she laughed and blushed, meeting John's quizzical, curious look. "By Jove, I believe the stuff _has_ worked and she's been trying it, Edna," he said. "It's early in the day, but she's lit up for a fact. How was your ride, little witch?" "The grandest thing you ever knew. I'd have taken you up behind me if I'd known what it was going to be. There's nothing like a bird's-eye view of this region." "What are you talking about, Sylvia?" asked Miss Martha. "Why, I rode all over Casco Bay last night on a broomstick. It was like visiting a wonderful picture gallery. There was a planet that cast a path across the water as the moon sank. The headlands jutted out into the waves, the cottages nestled among the trees. I went to the Mill Farm and looked through Uncle Calvin's window and blew him a kiss as he lay asleep." "Did he have his hat on?" inquired Miss Martha, and John and Edna laughed. "Why didn't you bring home your clothes?" asked Edna. "I did try to, but the broomstick bucked so when I tried to pass through my window, I saw I should raise the household, and I didn't want to startle them; so I raced away home again above the waves, while all the stars sang together!" "Have you been taking a foolish powder?" inquired Miss Martha, cutting her beefsteak. "You'll travel by wave to-day," remarked John. "I don't propose to go over to the Tide Mill afoot and alone." "After noon, then." "Very well. Have it your own way. You'd get ducked less this morning, though." "Yes, but something might happen to keep us. We might not get back in the afternoon." "Why, she's just crazy about this place, Edna," remarked Miss Lacey. Edna smiled with the grace of a gratified hostess, but she did not raise her eyes. Sylvia was crazy about something, but what was it? She seemed transformed from the quiet, intense, grateful girl whom Thinkright brought to the island so recently. As they rose from the table Sylvia eyed John curiously. "I suppose you'll go pretty soon to see Benny about getting the boat for this afternoon, won't you?" she asked. "Yes," he rejoined. "You'd better come with me."