"At least she got a taste of the sweets," said Miss Helen, "and I have not a doubt but that it will awaken her ambition as nothing else could do."
"She always had plenty of ambition," said Nan, "but she knew scarcely anything of what was outside a very small world."
"And the way she will work to keep up with her new self will be a caution," said Jo. "Dear me," she sighed, "there's the trouble; when you don't know and haven't seen you feel twice as complacent. You have a few rather nice ideas and some little knowledge, Jo Keyes, I patted myself on the head and said, but now, gracious! I feel as if I didn't know as much as one of the San Marco pigeons."
"So much the better," Miss Helen told her. "There is nothing so hopeless as self-complacency. You will forge ahead now, Jo, with twice the ardor you did before."
Just then a sudden hail from a passing gondola startled them all. Some one was standing up waving his hat violently. "Hallo, Nan Corner! Hallo, Jack!" came a voice as the gondola swung alongside.
Jack peered into the neighboring bark and cried out, "Carter! It's Carter, Nan. I know it is."
"Is that you, Carter Barnwell?" asked Nan leaning forward. "Of all things!"
"That's just who," was the reply; "and another friend of yours."
"Howdy, Miss Nan," came a second greeting.
"It's Harold Kirk, my cousin, you know," Carter said.
"Well, I declare! Aunt Helen, it is Carter and Mr. Kirk."
"I wish there were room in here for you boys," said Miss Helen.
"Can't we divide up?" asked Carter. "One of us will get in there with you and some of you can come in here with us."
"Rather a difficult proceeding," said Miss Helen laughing.
"I didn't mean that exactly," said Carter laughing, too. "Who all are in there?"
"Nan, Miss Jo Keys and Jack, besides Mr. Pinckney and myself," Miss Helen told him. Mr. Pinckney had given but a word of formal greeting.
"Suppose I get in," proposed Carter, with a look at his companion. "Who will change with me?"
"I'm willing to," Nan offered, "if Aunt Helen will come with me." So it was arranged. The gondolas were brought together and the exchange made.
The third gondola was lagging a considerable distance in the rear of the others, so that its occupants were not yet seen. As Mr. Pinckney and his party were about to start ahead, Mr. Pinckney peremptorily ordered the gondolier to take second place, so it was Mr. Kirk and his friends who led the way.