"Be game, Miss Sylvia, be game," suggested John. "Steamer leaves dock in half an hour sharp, as Judge Trent elects to have a late supper at Anemone Cottage rather than an early one in the shade of Mrs. Lem's pompadour." "Then I'm going, am I, Thinkright?" asked Sylvia, her eyes appealing to him as she rose. "Of course you're going," put in the judge authoritatively. "I've had no visit with you yet." "All right," returned Sylvia, smiling faintly at her uncle; but she took Thinkright's arm. "I'll meet you in half an hour," she said to the other men, and started toward the house, with her cousin captive. "Get your thought right on the way back, little one," he said. "You know how. You have nothing to conceal from Edna, I suppose?" Sylvia did not answer at once, and Thinkright, after a moment, turned and looked into her grave, downcast face. She spoke, after the little silence, with a collected dignity which was very becoming. "I'm ready to give Edna an account of every action of mine beneath her roof." "Very well, my child. I haven't a doubt of it. It's better for you to go back to-night. I'm sure you think so." "Yes, I do think so," replied Sylvia. CHAPTER XXVIII THE POTION They were a rather silent party on the homeward way. Dunham sailed the boat. Benny Merritt, fortified with thick slices of Mrs. Lem's good bread and butter, fell asleep and snored peacefully. He had bargained with Minty for this substantial repast as the price of sailing her around the Basin, and Sylvia had been quite concerned that he had no appetite for the afternoon tea which the others took before setting forth. At Anemone Cottage the party was received with acclaim. Miss Lacey's cheeks had been very pink from the moment of discovering with her spyglass a fourth figure in the boat; and Judge Trent had no cause to complain of his supper. The effervescent spirits which had this morning been Sylvia's seemed now to have passed into her hostess, and the glad eagerness with which the younger girl followed the other's mood was noted and appreciated by Dunham, who, when he could catch Sylvia's eye, sent her reassuring smiles, not one of which was lost upon Edna. Sylvia almost persuaded herself that she had been imaginative and unjust. Of course Edna had been too occupied in greeting Judge Trent just now, and in caring for his comfort, to give her more than a smiling nod of welcome on her arrival, but Edna's good cheer at the supper table was charming, and each guest in his way showed response to her mood. "I've another day of my carpenters to-morrow," she said after a while, "and I can't be sorry. They're great fun. I'm having the shed changed. The architect had suggested a more acute angle than my carpenter liked. I told Willis I thought he was improving on Mr. Lane's lines, and he replied, with that delightful drawl, 'Ye-us, he had sech a quick yank!'"