and listened to a simple direction of Nan’s as if it were meant for him, and acceded to her remark that she was glad for the shoulder’s sake that it did not have to wait and grow worse and worse all the while the doctor was being brought from town.  And after a few minutes, when the volley of thanks and compliments could be politely cut short, the two members of the picnic party set forth with their pail of water to join their companions.

“Will you be so good as to tell me how you knew enough to do that?” asked Mr. Gerry humbly, and looking at his companion with admiration.  “I should not have had the least idea.”

“I was very glad it turned out so well,” said Nan simply.  “It was a great pleasure to be of use, they were so frightened, poor things.  We won’t say anything about it, will we?”

But the young man did not like to think yet of the noise the returning bone had made.  He was stout-hearted enough usually; as brave a fellow as one could wish to see; but he felt weak and womanish, and somehow wished it had been he who could play the doctor.  Nan hurried back bareheaded to the oak grove as if nothing had happened, though, if possible, she looked gayer and brighter than ever.  And when the waiting party scolded a little at their slow pace, Miss Prince was much amused and made two or three laughing apologies for their laziness, and even ventured to give the information that they had made a pleasant call at the farm-house.

The clouds were fading fast and the twilight began to gather under the trees before they were ready to go away, and then the high tide had floated off one of the boats, which must be chased and brought back.  But presently the picnickers embarked, and, as the moon came up, and the river ebbed, the boats went back to the town and overtook others on the way, and then were pulled up stream again in the favoring eddy to make the evening’s pleasure longer; at last Nan was left at her door.  She had managed that George Gerry should give Mary Parish his arm, and told them, as they came up the street with her from the wharf, that she had heard their voices Saturday night as they passed under her window:  it was Mary Parish herself who had talked about the best room and its ghosts.

XVIII

A SERIOUS TEA-DRINKING

It was very good for Nan to find herself cordially welcomed to a company of young people who had little thought of anything but amusement in the pleasant summer weather.  Other young guests came to Dunport just then, and the hospitable town seemed to give itself up to their entertainment.  Picnics and tea-drinkings followed each other, and the pleasure boats went up river and down river, while there were walks and rides and drives, and all manner of contrivances and excuses for spending much time together on the part of the young men and maidens.  It was a good while since Nan had taken such a long holiday, though she had