Chapter XXVIII. An Unfortunate Lily Maid

           OfcourseyoumustbeElaine,Anne,”saidDiana.“Icouldneverhavethecouragetofloatdownthere.”

           “NorI,”saidRubyGillis,withashiver.“Idon’tmindfloatingdownwhenthere’stwoorthreeofusintheflatandwecansitup.It’sfunthen.ButtoliedownandpretendIwasdead—Ijustcouldn’t.I’ddiereallyoffright.”

           “Ofcourseitwouldberomantic,”concededJaneAndrews,“butIknowIcouldn’tkeepstill.I’dbepoppingupeveryminuteorsotoseewhereIwasandifIwasn’tdriftingtoofarout.Andyouknow,Anne,thatwouldspoiltheeffect.”

           “Butit’ssoridiculoustohavearedheadedElaine,”mournedAnne.“I’mnotafraidtofloatdownandI’dlovetobeElaine.Butit’sridiculousjustthesame.RubyoughttobeElainebecausesheissofairandhassuchlovelylonggoldenhair—Elainehad‘allherbrighthairstreamingdown,’youknow.AndElainewasthelilymaid.Now,ared-hairedpersoncannotbealilymaid.”

           “YourcomplexionisjustasfairasRuby’s,”saidDianaearnestly,“andyourhairiseversomuchdarkerthanitusedtobebeforeyoucutit.”

           “Oh,doyoureallythinkso?”exclaimedAnne,flushingsensitivelywithdelight.“I’vesometimesthoughtitwasmyself—butIneverdaredtoaskanyoneforfearshewouldtellmeitwasn’t.Doyouthinkitcouldbecalledauburnnow,Diana?”

           “Yes,andIthinkitisrealpretty,”saidDiana,lookingadmiringlyattheshort,silkycurlsthatclusteredoverAnne’sheadandwereheldinplacebyaveryjauntyblackvelvetribbonandbow.