this was too intangible
for her to explain to him. Betty, too, was as much puzzled as herself.

"I declare," she said, when appealed to, "I don't know what to tell you,
Lloyd. It's going to be such a dull summer with everybody gone, and Alex
Shelby is so nice in every way, it does seem unfair for you to have to
put such a desirable companionship from you just on account of another
girl's jealousy. On the other hand, Bernice is an old playmate, and you
can't very well ignore the claims of such a long-time friendship. She
has misjudged and misrepresented you, and the opportunity is yours, if
you will take it, to show her how mistaken she is in your character."

Now, as Lloyd reached the end of the avenue and stopped in front of the
gate, her face brightened. Katie Mallard was hurrying down the railroad
track, waving her parasol to attract her attention.

"I can't come in," she called, as she came within speaking distance.
"I'm out delivering the most informal of invitations to the most
informal of garden-parties to-morrow afternoon. I want you and Betty to
help receive."

"Who else is going to help?" asked Lloyd, when she had cordially
accepted the invitation for herself and Betty.

"Nobody. I had intended to have Bernice Howe, and went up there awhile
ago to ask her. She said maybe she'd come, but she certainly wouldn't
help receive if you were going to. She's dreadfully down on you, Lloyd."

"Yes, I know it. I've heard some of the catty things she said about my
breaking up the friendship between her and Malcolm. It's simply absurd,
and it makes me so boiling mad every time I think about it that I feel
like a smouldering volcano. There aren't any words strong enough to
relieve my mind. I'd like to thundah and lighten at her."

"Yes, it is absurd," agreed Katie. "I told her so too. I told her that
Malcolm always had thought more of you than any girl in the Valley, and
always would. And she said, well, you had no 'auld lang syne' claim on
Alex, and that if he once got started to going to Locust you'd soon have
him under your thumb as you do every one else, and that would be the end
of the affair for her."

"As if I were an old spidah, weaving webs for everybody that comes
along!" cried Lloyd, indignantly. "She's no right to talk that way."

"I think it's because she really cares so much, and not that she does it
to be spiteful," said Katie. "She hasn't a bit of pride about hiding her
feeling for him. She openly c