mentary thing said about him afterward, as if she were responsible
for his good behavior, and was pleased with the way he was "showing
off."

Rob came over as usual in the evening. Phil was not there at first. He
and Eugenia were strolling about the grounds. Mary, sitting in a hammock
on the porch, was impatient for them to come in, for she wanted to see
what impression he would make on Rob, whom she had been thinking lately
was the nicest man she ever met. She wanted to see them together to
contrast the two, for they seemed wonderfully alike in size and general
appearance. In actions, too, Mary thought, remembering how they both had
teased her.

She had not seen Rob since their unhappy encounter early that morning,
when she had been so overcome with mortification; and if Betty had not
been on the porch also, she would have found it hard to stay and face
him. But she wanted to show Betty that she had taken her little sermon
to heart. Then, besides, the affair did not look so big, after all that
had happened during this exciting day.

As they waited, Joyce joined them, and presently they heard Lloyd coming
through the hall. She was singing a verse from Ingelow's "Songs of
Seven:"

"'There is no dew left on the daisies and clover.
There is no rain left in the heaven.
I've said my seven times over and over--
Seven times one are seven.'"

Then she began again, "'There is no dew left on the daisies and
clover--'" Rob turned to Mary. "I wonder why," he said, meaningly.

The red flashed up into Mary's face and she made no audible answer, but
Joyce, turning suddenly, saw to her horror that Mary had made a saucy
face at him and thrust out her tongue like a naughty child.

"Why, Mary Ware!" she began, in a shocked tone, but Betty interrupted
with a laugh. "Let her alone, Joyce; he richly deserved it. He was
teasing her."

"Betty was right," thought Mary afterward. "It _was_ better to make fun
of his teasing than to run off and cry because he happened to mention
the subject. If I had done that, he never would have said to Betty
afterward that I was the jolliest little thing that ever came over the
pike. How much better this day has ended than it began."

CHAPTER VIII.

AT THE BEECHES

The invitation came by telephone while the family was at breakfast next
morning. Would the house-party at The Locusts join the house-party at
The Beeches in giving a series of table