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there was plenty of room in the great dancing…hall at the hotel； and
the band in the pavilion played such inspiring music that； as the
bicycle boy said； 〃Everyone who had a leg couldn't help shaking
it。〃 Molly was twirled about to her heart's content； and flew hither
and thither like a blue butterfly； for all the lads liked her； and she
kept running up to tell Jill the funny things they said and did。
As night darkened from all the houses in the valley； on the cliffs
and along the shore lights shone and sparkled； for everyone
decorated with gay lanterns； and several yachts in the bay strung
colored lamps about the little vessels； making a pretty picture on
the quiet sea。 Jill thought she had never seen anything so like
fairy…land； and felt very like one in a dream as she drove slowly up
and down with Mamie； Gerty； Molly； and Mrs。 Cox in the carriage；
so that she might see it all without too much fatigue。 It was very
lovely； and when rockets began to whizz； filling the air with
golden rain； a shower of colored stars； fiery dragons； or glittering
wheels； the girls could only shriek with delight； and beg to stay a
little longer each time the prudent lady proposed going home。
It had to be at last； but Molly and Jill comforted themselves by a
long talk in bed； for it was impossible to sleep with glares of light
coming every few minutes； flocks of people talking and tramping
by in the road； and bursts of music floating down to them ~s thc
oldcr but not wiser revellers kept up the merriment till a late hour。
They'd ropped off at last； but Jill had the nightmare； and Molly
was waked up by a violent jerking of her braid as Jill tried to tow
her along； dreaming she was a boat。
They were too sleepy to laugh much then； but next morning they
made merry over it； and went to breakfast with such happy faces
that all the young folks pronounced Jill's friend a most delightful
girl。 What a good time Molly did have that week！ Other people
were going to leave also； and therefore much picnicking； boating；
and driving was crowded into the last days。 Clambakes on the
shore； charades in the studio； sewing…parties at the boat； evening
frolics in the big dining…room； farewell calls； gifts； and Invitations；
all Sorts of plans for next summer； and vows of eternal friendship
exchanged between people who would soon forget each other。 It
was very pleasant； till poor Boo innocently added to the
excitement by poisoning a few of his neighbors with a bad lobster。
The ambitious little soul pined to catch one of these mysterious
but lovely red creatures； and spent days fishing on the beach；
investigating holes and corners； and tagging after the old man who
supplied the house。 One day after a high wind he found several
〃lobs〃 washed up on the beach； and； though disappointed at their
color； he picked out a big one； and set off to show his prize to
Molly。 Half…way home he met the old man on his way with a
basket of fish； and being tired of lugging his contribution laid it
with the others； meaning to explain later。 No one saw him do it； as
the old man was busy with his pipe； and Boo ran back to get more
dear lobs； leaving his treasure to go into the kettle and appear at
supper； by which time he had forgotten all about it。
Fortunately none of the children ate any； but several older people
were made ill； and quite a panic prevailed that night as one after
the other called up the doctor； who was boarding close by； and
good Mrs。 Grey； the hostess； ran about with hot flannels； bottles of
medicine； and distracted messages from room to room。 All were
comfortable by morning； but the friends of the sufferers lay in wait
for the old fisherman； and gave him a good scolding for his
carelessness。 The poor man was protesting his innocence when
Boo； who was passing by； looked into the basket； and asked what
had become of his lob。 A few questions brought the truth to light；
and a general laugh put everyone in good humor； when poor Boo
mildly said； by way of explanation；
〃I fought I was helpin' Mrs。 Dray； and I'd id want to see the dreen
lob come out all red when she boiled him。 But I fordot； and I don't
fink I'll ever find such a nice big one any more。〃
〃For our sakes； I hope you won't； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Hammond；
who had been nursing one of the sufferers。
〃It's lucky we are going home to…morrow； or that child would be
the death of himself and everybody else。 He is perfectly crazy
about fish； and I've pulled him out of that old lobster…pot on the
beach a dozen times；〃 groaned Molly； much afflicted by the
mishaps of her young charge。
There was a great breaking up next day； and the old omnibus went
off to the station with Bacon hanging on behind； the bicycle boy
and his iron whirligig atop； and heads popping out of all the
windows for last good…byes。 Our party and the Hammonds were
going by boat； and were all ready to start for the pier when Boo
and little Harry were missing。 Molly； the maid； and both boys ran
different ways to find them； and all sorts of dreadful suggestions
were being made when shouts of laughter were heard from the
beach； and the truants appeared； proudly dragging in Harry's little
wagon a dead devil…fish； as the natives call that ugly thing which
looks like a magnified tadpoleall head and no body。
〃We've dot him！〃 called the innocents； tugging up their prize with
such solemn satisfaction it was impossible to help laughing。
〃I always wanted to tatch a whale； and this is a baby one； I fink。 A
boy said； when they wanted to die they corned on the sand and did
it； and we saw this one go dead just now。 Ain't lie pretty？〃 asked
Boo； displaying the immense mouth with fond pride； while his
friend flapped the tail。
〃What are you going to do with him？〃 said Mrs。 Hammond；
regarding her infant as if she often asked herself the same question
about her boy。
〃Wap him up in a paper and tate him home to pay wid；〃 answered
Harry； with such confidence in his big blue eyes that it was very
hard to disappoint his hopes and tell him the treasure must be left
behind。
Wails of despair burst from both children as the hard…hearted boys
tipped out the little whale； and hustled the indignant fishermen on
board the boat； which had been whistling for them impatiently。
Boo recovered his spirits first； and gulping down a sob that nearly
shook his hat off； consoled his companion in affliction and
convulsed his friends by taking from his pocket several little crabs；
the remains of a jelly…fish； and such a collection of pebbles that
Frank understood why he found the fat boy such a burden when he
shouldered him； kicking and howling； in the late run to the boat。
These delicate toys healed the wounds of Boo and Harry； and they
were soon happily walking the little 〃trabs〃 about inside a stone
wall of their own building； while the others rested after their
exertions； and laid plans for coming to the Willows another year；
as pe