Perry was passed on to a younger lady, evidently the daughter of the house.

“Howdy do?” murmured the latter, shaking hands listlessly.

“How do!” returned Perry brightly.  “Bully night, eh!”

“Yes, isn’t it?” drawled the young lady.  Then Perry gave place to Wink.

“Good evening,” said Wink, grinning blandly.

“Howdy do?  So nice of you to come,” murmured the lady.  Wink joined Perry and they crossed to the other side of the terrace and maliciously watched the embarrassment of the other boys.  Joe and Harry Corwin carried things off rather well, but the others were fairly speechless.  Perry chuckled as he saw the growing bewilderment on the face of the hostess.  But finally the ordeal was over and Perry led the way back to the festivities.  Ossie groaned when they were safely out of ear-shot.

“She’s on to us,” he muttered.  “I could see it in her eye!  I’m off before they throw me out!”

“Don’t be a jay,” begged Perry.  “The evening’s young and the fun’s just starting.  Mrs. Thingamabob doesn’t know whether she asked us or not.  I’m going to see what’s in the big tent over there.  Come on, fellows.”

They went, dodging their way between chattering groups and impeding chairs, but when Perry peered through the doorway of the marquee he was met with a chilly look from a waiter on guard there.  “Supper is at ten o’clock, sir,” said the servant haughtily.

“That’s all right,” replied Perry kindly.  “Don’t hurry on my account, old top!”

What to do for the succeeding hour was the question, for, while all save Perry and Ossie danced more or less skilfully, they knew no one to dance with.  “If you ask me,” remarked Cas Temple, yawning, “I call this dull.  I’d rather be in my bunk, fellows.”

“Well, let’s find something to do,” said Joe.  “Maybe they’ve got a roller-coaster or a merry-go-round somewhere.  Let’s—­um—­explore.”

By this time the dancing had begun in earnest and the platform was well filled with whirling couples.  The boys paused to look on and, since the throng was growing larger every minute, were forced to change their position more than once with the result that presently Perry, Wink and Ossie found themselves separated from their companions.  They looked about them unavailingly and waited for several minutes, and then, as the others did not appear, went on.

“We’ll run across them,” said Perry cheerfully.  “Let’s stroll around and see who’s here.”

“Awfully mixed crowd,” said Wink.  “Really, you know, Mrs. Jones-Smythe should be more particular.  Why, some of the folks don’t look as though they had ever been invited!”

“I know,” agreed Perry, with a sigh.  “Society’s going to the dogs these days.  One meets all sorts of people.  It’s perfectly deplorable.”

“Beastly,” agreed Ossie, stumbling over a chair.  “Bar Harbor’s getting very common, I fear.”

“Hello, that’s pretty!” exclaimed Perry.  They had emerged onto a walled space that looked straight out over the water.  Hundreds of lights dotted the purple darkness and the air held the mingled fragrance of sea and roses.  “This isn’t so punk, you know,” continued Perry, leaning over the wall.  “Maybe this would suit me as well as an island.”