eeting willows, and poked at
the tadpoles, gathered wild roses, killed, perhaps, a snake or two.
Then, toward evening, they jolted home again, hot, dusty, and weary, but
supremely content in having lived up to the traditions of Menlo Park.
Tiny alone came out triumphant on these trying occasions. Dressed in
cool white, she seated her diminutive self in the very middle of the
haystack and talked little. The others, undaunted by the sun, started in
high spirits, flirted with energy, and changed their positions many
times. Upon the return journey, Tiny, again, sat serene and white; the
rest dangled over the sides as a last relief for aching limbs and backs,
and forgot the very alphabet of flirtation. It is true that Magdalena
did not flirt; but she worked hard to keep her guests pleased and
comfortable, and usually went to bed with a headache.

XXIX

It was Tiny who discovered that it was leap year, and invited Menlo to
dance at her house one Saturday night and take all advantage of its
privileges. Mrs. Yorba consented that Magdalena should have a new frock,
the organdie being in a condition for a maid to sniff at. Magdalena
asserted herself, and ordered a scarlet tarlatan. The frock was smartly
made at a good house, and Magdalena, on the night of the party, was
almost pleased with herself. The vivid colour slanted under her swarthy
skin. She wore red slippers and red roses in her hair. By this time she
knew something of dress,--it was October,--and she had also discovered
that red was Trennahan's favourite colour.

She was happy, but a little nervous. There had been more than one sign
of late that the pretty comedy of friendship had run its course. The
very words they uttered had lost their clear-cut black and white, seemed
to grow more full-blooded. His eyes had made her lose her breath more
than once, had even sharpened her wits to hasty subterfuge.

The Montgomery parlour was a narrow room at right angles with the
dining-room. The two rooms had been thrown into one and canvased.

Tiny invited Don Roberto to open the dance with her, and that
platonically enamoured gentleman consented with a grand flourish. Ila
exercised her blandishments upon Mr. Polk, but to no purpose. No one
could understand his constant attendance at these dances, for he merely
stood about with unrelaxing visage, scarcely exchanging a word with even
the older men. He wore the suit of evening clothes which had done duty
at men's dinners