Two crews only were to row—the Ossokosee Boat Club and the Victory Rowing Association—and much interest was attached to the race. Mr. Marcy had offered a prize of two hundred dollars to the winners, and, furthermore, the Ossokosee Club were determined not to be beaten for the fourth year. The last three regattas had resulted, one after another, in the triumph of the elated Victors. Philip was a zealous member of the Ossokosees, and found it hard work to keep in any kind of training, what with his duties at the hotel. But then the whole affair was not so "professional" as it might have been, and Touchtone's natural athletic talents and Mr. Marcy's indulgence helped him to pull his oar as skillfully and enduringly as any other of the six.
Gerald listened with all his ears to his friend's account of their last year's defeat. All at once Philip remembered a message for Mrs. Ingraham about the flowers from the conservatory.
"Please stand here by the arbor one moment?" he asked. I'll just run to the dining-room and find her."
Now, there was a long rustic seat outside the
