this little woman,"
taking Mabel's hand, "have had very few invitations lately. Never mind,
Kate, I'll support you, and if we hurry home now, you can polish up your
rusty tennis powers at Rosendale. We must make a proper court there,
Miss Meadowsweet. In the meantime, we are all delighted to accept your
kind invitation."

"Be with us at seven," said Beatrice. "Mother doesn't like supper to be
later than half-past-eight, but if you are with us by seven we shall
have time for a good game first. And now, I think I must go home, or my
mother will wonder what has become of me."

Mabel picked up the luncheon basket. Loftus flung the rugs over his
shoulder, and the four young people went down to the boats.

Loftus and Mabel lingered a little behind. Catherine and Beatrice led
the way.

"You don't want to come to-night," suddenly said Beatrice to her
companion.

Catherine started and colored.

"Why do you say that? I--I am glad to come."

"Don't come if you don't want to. I shall understand."

They had reached the boats. The Bertrams seated themselves in their own.
Miss Meadowsweet advised them not to put up the sail, but thought if she
kept within easy distance, they might manage the oars. Loftus and Mabel
rowed. Kate sat in the stern and steered. Beatrice Meadowsweet
applauded, and rowed her own boat with skill. She reached the shore
before them, and called out in her clear voice:

"I sha'n't wait now. I shall see you all at seven this evening."

"Reply for us, Kate," whispered Loftus. "Reply for us all, quickly."

"Yes--we'll come," called Catherine across the water.

Beatrice smiled. Her smile was of the sunniest. It flashed back a look
of almost love at Catherine. Then she turned to walk up the steep steps
which led from the quay to the little High Street.

"We ought not to go," instantly began Catherine.

Loftus stopped rowing, bent forward and put his hand across her mouth.

"Not another word," he said. "I'll undertake to conciliate the mother,
and I think she can trust to my ideas of good-breeding."

Meanwhile Beatrice walked quickly home. The Meadowsweets lived at the
far end of the town in a large gray stone house. The house stood back a
little from the road, and a great elm tree threw its protecting shade
over the porch and upper windows. It was, however, an ordinary house in
a street, and looked a little old-fashioned and a little gloomy until
you stepped into the drawing-room, which was furnished