osed the gate, and hurried
down the path to help her carry her fragrant load. He had, as usual, a
message to deliver. "Mother sends her love, Miss Lois, and says she isn't
well enough to go and drive this afternoon; but she'll be glad to go
to-morrow, if you'll take her?"

"Oh, yes, indeed!" Lois cried, in her impetuous voice. "But I'm sorry
she's ill to-day."

Dick gave the slightest possible shrug of his square shoulders. "Oh, I
guess she's all right," he said. "It amuses her. But won't you give me
some flowers to take home to her?"

Of course Lois was delighted to do it, but Dick insisted that she should
first put those she had already gathered in water, and then get some
fresh ones for his mother. "You see I'm very particular that she should
have the best;" then they both laughed. Now mutual laughter at small
jokes brings about a very friendly feeling.

They went up to the side porch, where it was shady, and Lois and Sally
brought out all the vases and dishes which could be made to hold flowers,
and put them in a row on the top step. Then Dick brought a big pitcher of
fresh, cold water from the spring, and Lois went for the garden scissors
to clip off the long stems; and at last they were ready to go to work,
the sweet confusion of flowers on the steps between them, and Max sitting
gravely at Lois's elbow as chaperon.

The rector heard their voices and the frequent shouts of laughter, and
began to think he must bestir himself; Mr. Forsythe should see that
Ashurst young women were under the constant over-sight of their parents;
but he yawned once or twice, and thought how comfortable the cool leather
of the lounge was, and had another little doze before he went out to the
porch with the open letter in his hand.

Dick had his hat full of white, and pink, and wine-colored hollyhocks,
which he had stripped from their stems, and was about to put in a shallow
dish, so he did not rise, but said "Hello!" in answer to the rector's
"Good-morning," and smiled brightly up at him. It was the charm of this
smile which made the older people in Ashurst forget that he treated
them with very little reverence.

"Lois," her father said, "I have a letter from Helen; do you want to send
any message when I answer it? Mr. Forsythe will excuse you if you read
it."

"Why, of course," Dick replied. "I feel almost as though I knew Mrs.
Ward, Miss Lois has talked so much about her."

"How funny to hear her called 'Mrs. Ward!'" Lois s