It was not so very dark after all, nor so disagreeable as she had
imagined. She sat curled up in a heap on the deck of the Col. Phillips,
looking with interested eyes on the groups of people, who, despite the
rain and darkness, were evidently on their way to Chautauqua. Marion had
gone to the other side of the boat and was looking over into the water,
rested and interested in spite of herself by the novelty of the scene
around her. The fellow-passengers seemed not to be novices like
themselves, for as their talk floated to the girls it had sentences like
these:

"Last year we stopped in the village, but this time we are going to be
right on the ground."

"Last year it rained, too; but rain makes no difference at Chautauqua."

"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