A number of the Spring Beach boys and girls had drifted in, as they often did at tea time, and the talk of the many small groups was all of the coming festivity.  Beside the Sea Float, there were the various rivers to be represented.  The Nile would be characterised by Egyptian costumes and effects.  The Hudson would be an attempt at a representation of “The Half Moon.”  The Tiber was to show gorgeous Roman citizens; the Thames proudly contemplated a houseboat, and the Seine, French scenery.  Also, there would be floats representing Venice, Holland, the Panama Canal, Niagara Falls, the Open Polar Sea, and many others showing some phase or manifestation of water’s great kingdom.

Daisy had inveigled Guy Martin into a tete-a-tete corner with her, but after a polite quarter of an hour, he declared he must move around and confer with a few people concerning their parts in the carnival.

“How about Patty’s being Spirit of the Sea?” he asked.

“Oh,” Daisy said, “you’d better not say anything to her about that.  I asked her, and she gave me this note to give you.  It isn’t signed, nor addressed, but you see it’s her handwriting.  She wrote it hastily, but she said she didn’t want to talk about the matter.”

Guy looked a little surprised, but took the note and read it.  “H’m,” he said, “rather not be Spirit of the Sea.  Get some one else.  And—­as a personal favour, don’t speak of the matter to her!  Well, Pretty Patty must have a miff of some sort.  Most unlike her!  However, her word is law.  I’ll never mention the subject to her, since she asks me not to.  But our time is getting short, and most of the girls have their parts.  Miss Dow, won’t you be Spirit of the Sea?”

“Why, yes, if you want me to,” said Daisy, looking modest and demure.  “I can make the costume easily, because I know just how.  It requires fishnet draperies over green chiffon, and lots of seaweed decorations and that sort of thing.”

“Yes; you have just the right idea.  Then I’ll put you down for that.  You and Mr. Farnsworth will make a fine pair.  I wonder what Patty would like to be.”

“I’ll ask her,” volunteered Daisy.  “I know you’re awfully busy, Mr. Martin, and I want to help you all I can.  So leave that matter to me.”

“Very well, I will,” said Guy, who really had a multitude of cares and affairs; “but be sure to make her take some good part.  It wouldn’t be a Pageant at all with Patty Fairfield left out!  If I didn’t have to skip away this very minute to keep an engagement with a scene painter, I’d ask her what’s the matter, anyhow!”

“Oh, Mr. Martin, you forget she asked you, as a personal favour, not to speak to her about it.”

“By Jove!  So she did!  Wonder what’s come over the girlie!  If anybody has offended her, I’ll kill him!  Well, I must fly, Miss Dow; attend the rehearsals, won’t you?  See you tomorrow.”

Guy made hasty adieux to Mona, and went off on his errands.