;
won't you please pass these?" she said. And away they went to the rest
of the company, who were scattered along the arbor benches by twos and
threes.

"I saw you in your boat when I first came up the river," Betty found
time to say. "I didn't know who you were then, though I was sure you
were one of the boys whom I used to play with. Some time when Nelly is
going down couldn't you take me too? I can row."

"Nelly would go if you would. I never thought to ask her. I always wish
there were somebody else to see how pleasant it is"--and then a voice
interrupted to ask what Harry was catching now.

"Bass," said Harry, with brightening face. "I do so well that I am
sending them down to Riverport every day that the packet goes, and I
wish that I had somebody to help me. You don't know what a rich old
river it is!"

"Why, if here isn't Aunt Mary!" cried Betty. Sure enough, the eager
voices and the laughter had attracted another guest. And Aunt Barbara
sprang up joyfully and called for a shawl and footstool from the house;
but Betty didn't wait for them, and brought Aunt Mary to the arbor
bench. Nobody knew when the poor lady had been in her own garden before,
but here she was at last, and had her supper with the rest. The good
doctor would have been delighted enough if he had seen the sight.

Nothing had ever tasted so good as that out-of-door supper. The white
June moon came up, and its bright light made the day longer; and when
everybody had eaten a last piece of sponge-cake, and the heap of
strawberries on a great round India dish had been leveled, what should
be heard but sounds of a violin. Betty had discovered that Seth
Pond,--the clumsy, good-natured Seth of all people!--had, as he said,
"ears for music," and had taught himself to play.

So they had a country-dance on the green, girls and boys and Aunt
Barbara, who had been a famous dancer in her youth; and those who didn't
know the steps of "Money Musk" and the Virginia reel were put in the
middle of the line, and had plenty of time to learn before their turns
came. Afterward Seth played "Bonny Doon," and "Nelly was a Lady," and
"Johnny Comes Marching Home," and "Annie Laurie," and half a dozen other
songs, and everybody sang, but, to Betty's delight, Mary Beck's voice
led all the rest.

The moon was high in the sky when the guests went away. It seemed like a
new world to some young folks who were there, and everybody was
surprised because everybody else look