hese tight dresses; one can't move
one's legs as it is.'

'But don't you think you'll feel cold--catch cold?'

'Not a bit of it; no danger of cold when you have shammy-leather
drawers.'

Then, overcome by her exuberant feelings, May began to sing:
'Five-and-forty spinsters baked in a pie,' etc. 'Five-and-forty,' she
said, breaking off, 'have subscribed. I wonder how many will be married
by this time next year? You know, I shouldn't care to be married all at
once; I'd want to see the world a bit first. Even if I liked a man, I
shouldn't care to marry him now; time enough in about three years' time,
when one is beginning to get tired of flirtations and parties. I have
often wondered what it must be like. Just fancy waking up and seeing a
man's face on the pillow, or for--'

'No, no, May; I will not; you must not. I will not listen to these
improper conversations!'

'Now, don't get angry, there's a dear, nice girl; you're worse than
Violet, 'pon my word you are; but we must be off. It is a good
half-hour's drive, and we shall want to be there before nine. The people
will begin to come in about that time.'

Mrs. Gould was asleep in the drawing-room, and, as they awoke her, the
sound of wheels was heard on the gravel outside. The girls hopped into
the carriage. Mrs. Gould pulled herself in, and, blotted out in a far
corner, thought vaguely of asking May not to dance more than three times
with Fred Scully; May chattered to Alice or looked impatiently through
the misted windows for the familiar signs; the shadow of a tree on the
sky, or the obscure outline of a farm-building that would tell how near
they were to their destination. Suddenly the carriage turned to the
right, and entered a sort of crescent. There were hedges on both sides,
through which vague forms were seen scrambling, but May humorously
explained that as no very unpopular landlord was going to be present, it
was not thought that an attempt would be made to blow up the building;
and, conscious of the beautiful night which hung like a blue mysterious
flower above them, they passed through a narrow doorway draped with
red-striped canvas.

'Now, mother, what do you think of the decorations? Do say a word of
praise.'

'I've always said, May, that you have excellent taste.'

The school-hall and refectory had been transformed into ball and supper
rooms, and the narrow passages intervening were hung with red cloth and
green garlands of oak and holly. On cro