remark beyond the composed and decided, "I am not going over in the
woods to-night by any manner of means; that would be enough if I were
actually one of the lunatics instead of a mild looker-on."

"I haven't the least idea of going, either," Eurie said, sitting on a
stool, balancing her stockinged feet against Ruth's rocker. "Not that I
mind the rain, or that it wouldn't be fun enough if I were not so dead
tired. But I tell you, girls, I have had to work like a soldier to get
ready, and having the care of such a set as you have been all day has
been too much for me. A religious meeting would just finish me. I'm
going to save myself up for morning. You are a goosie to go, Marion. It
is as dark as ink, and is raining. What can you see to-night?"

"I tell you I've _got_ to go," Marion said, as she quietly unstrapped
her shawl. "I earn my bread, as you are very well aware, by teaching
school; but my butter, and a few such delicacies, I get by writing up
folks and things. I've promised to give a melting account of this first
meeting, and I have no idea of losing the chance. Flossy Shipley, you
may wear my waterproof every minute if you will go with me. It is long
enough to drag a quarter of a yard, and a rain drop can not get near
enough to think of you.

"But it is so damp," shivered Flossy, looking drearily out into the
night, "and so dark, Marion, I am afraid to go."

"Plenty of people going. What is there to be afraid of? We go down from
here in a carriage."

"I wouldn't go, Flossy," chimed in a voice from the rocker and one from
the ottoman.

"It will be very damp there," pleaded Flossy, who _did_ like to be
accommodating.

"You may have ten thicknesses of my shawl to sit on," urged Marion.
"Come, now, Flossy Shipley. I didn't have the least idea of coaxing
those other girls to go, for every one knows they are selfish and will
do as they please; but I did think you would keep me company. It really
isn't pleasant to think of going alone."

The end of it was that Flossy, done up in a cloak twice too large for
her, went off looking like the martyr that she was, and Eurie and Ruth
staid in their room and laughed over the ridiculousness of Flossy
Shipley going out in the night and the rain, in a lavender cashmere, to
attend a religious meeting!

CHAPTER IV.

FAIRPOINT.

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. Philli