“They are all last year’s people,” said Marion, coming over to Flossy’s side.  “That speaks well for the interest, or the fun, doesn’t it?  Now what do you suppose takes all these people to this place?”

“I don’t know,” Flossy said thoughtfully, “I never thought much about it.  Perhaps some of them came just as I did, because the girls were coming and asked me to.  I’m sure I haven’t the least idea what else I came for.”

Marion looked down on the little creature done up in water-proof, with a half-pitying laugh.

“You are a good little mouse,” she said patronizingly.  “I never remember doing anything without a motive somewhere.  It must be refreshing to forget that important individual now and then.”

“Oh, I don’t,” Flossy said, simply.  “Of course I came for the good time I would have.  But then, you know, I would never have thought of coming if the rest of you hadn’t.”

Another laugh from Marion.

“You let others do your thinking for you,” she said, with just a touch of contempt, covered by the gayety of the tone.  “Well, it is much the easier way.  If I could find anyone to undertake the task, I should like to try it for myself.”

Flossy’s answer was a little scream of delight, for they were coming upon fairy-land; the lights of Fairpoint were gleaming in the soft distance, and very fairy-like they looked shining among the trees.  The sound of music on the steamer mingled charmingly with the peal of the bells from the shore.  Marion looked on the scene with quiet interest.  Flossy’s face took a pink glow; she liked pretty things.  As for those who had been at Chautauqua the year before, they gathered at the vessel’s side as those gather who, after a long and tiresome journey, realize that they are nearing home.  They were eager and excited.

“The dock is better,” said one.

“Yes, and the passage way is larger,” chimed in his nearest neighbor.

“Oh, everything is on an improved scale this year,” said still a third, speaking confidently.

“The meeting can’t be any better,” spoke a quiet-faced woman, with a decided voice, “that is simply impossible.”

Marion laughed softly.

“Hear the lunatics!” she said, bending to give Flossy the benefit of her words.  “They are just infatuated; they think this is the original Garden of Eden, with that wretched Eve left out.  If she were here I would choke her with a relish.”  This last in a muttered undertone, too low for even Flossy, and with a darkening face.

Meantime the boat rounded the point, the plank was laid, and the feet of the eager passengers touched the shores of Chautauqua.  Some detention about tickets, arising from a misunderstanding of terms, made our girls lose sight and sound of the rest of the boat-load, and when they passed within the railing they found themselves suddenly and strangely alone.  A few lights glimmered in the trees, enough to point the way, and from the cottages near at hand streams of light shot out into the darkness; but no sound of footsteps, no sight of human being appeared