"You are certainly bedraggled looking specimens." Harriet told the guardian of their search for the "Red Rover." Miss Elting frowned.

The message from her brother was still in her pocket.
She recalled the peculiar actions of Dee Dickinson, wondering if perchance he had anything to do with the casting adrift of their houseboat, Harriet had not told the guardian of having found a hot stove on the occasion of their first visit to their summer home.

That, perhaps, might have enlightened the guardian.
Now that Miss Elting and the other girls were there to unload the automobile, Jane and Harriet turned to go.
"We will begin to settle while you girls go to town for breakfast," called the guardian after them.
"You will have to wait a while until the rear end of the boat dries out," returned Harriet.

"I don't think it will take long.

But, in the meantime, there are the windows and the walls that need fixing." The other girls and the guardian fell to work while Jane and Harriet were at breakfast, and dainty chintz curtains were draped over each window.