one or even the suspicion of one. And since her own life was so devoid of this fascination, she had gone about for several years,[Pg 44] speculating in her own imagination about the lives of others, and wondering if mystery ever entered into their existences. But not until her meeting with little Sally Carter, had there been even the faintest suggestion of such a thing. And now, at last—! She pulled out her watch and switched on her light for the fortieth time. Only quarter to five. But through her windows she could see the faint dawn breaking over the river, so she rose softly, dressed, and sat down to watch the coming of day. [Pg 44] At nine o'clock she was pacing nervously up and down the beach. And when old "45" at last grated on the sand, she hopped in with a glad cry, kissed and hugged Genevieve, who was devoting her attention to her thumb, in the stern seat, as usual, and sank down in the vacant rowing-seat, remarking to Sally: "Hello, dear! I'm awfully glad you've come!" This remark may not seem to express very adequately her inward state of excitement but she had resolved not to let Sally see how tremendously anxious she was. [Pg 45] [Pg 45] The trip to Slipper Point was a somewhat silent one. Neither of the girls seemed inclined to conversation and, besides that, there was a stiff head-wind blowing and the pulling was difficult. When they had beached the boat, at length, on the golden sandbar of Slipper Point, Doris only looked toward Sally and said: "So you're going to show me at last, dear?" But Sally hesitated a moment. "Doris," she began, "this is my secret—and Genevieve's—and I never thought I'd tell any one about it. It's the only secret I ever had worth anything, but I'm going to tell you,—well, because I—I think so much of you. Will you solemnly promise—cross your heart—that you'll never tell any one?" Doris gazed straight into Sally's somewhat troubled eyes. "I don't need to 'cross my heart,' Sally. I just give you my word of honor I won't, unless sometime you wish it. I've not breathed a word of the fact that you had a secret, even to Mother. And I've never kept anything from her before." And this[Pg 46] simple statement completely satisfied Sally. [Pg 46] "Come on, then," she said. "Follow Genevieve and me, and we'll give you the surprise of your life."
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