of the way he
was acquitting himself.

Even Mrs. Foster said to her husband, who had now arrived:

"Do you see that? Who would have expected as much from a raw, green
country boy?"

"But, my dear, don't you see? The secret of it is that he's not thinking
of himself at all. He's only anxious his friends should have a good
time."

"That's it; but then that too is a very rare thing in a boy of his age."

"Dabney!" exclaimed the lawyer in a louder tone of voice.

"Good-evening, Mr. Foster. I'm glad you've found room. The house isn't
half large enough."

"I understand your ponies ran away with you to-day?"

"They did come home in a hurry; but nobody was hurt."

"I fear there would have been, but for you. Do you start for Grantley
with the other boys to-morrow?"

"Of course. Dick Lee and I need some one to take care of us. We never
traveled so far before."

"On land, you mean. Is Dick here to-night?"

"Came and looked in, sir, but got scared by the crowd and went home."

"Poor fellow! Well, we will do all we can for him."

Poor Dick Lee!

And yet, if Mr. Dabney Kinzer had known his whereabouts at that very
moment he would half have envied him.

Dick's mother was in the kitchen helping about the supper, but she had
not left home until she had compelled Dick to dress himself in his
best,--white shirt, red neck-tie, shining shoes and all,--and she had
brought him with her almost by force.

"You's good nuff to go to de 'cad'my and leab yer pore mother, an' I
reckon you's good nuff for de party."

And Dick had actually ventured in from the kitchen through the
dining-room and as far as the door of the back parlor, where few would
look.

[Illustration: "PINNED!"]

How his heart did beat as he looked on the merry gathering, a large part
of whom he had known "all his born days!"

But there was a side door opening from that dining-room on the long
piazza which Mrs. Kinzer had added to the old Morris mansion, and Dick's
hand was on the knob of that door almost before he knew it.

Then he was out on the road to the landing, and in five minutes more he
was vigorously rowing the "Jenny" out through the inlet toward the bay.

His heart was not beating unpleasantly any longer, but as he shot out
from the narrow passage through the flags and saw the little waves
laughing in the cool, dim starlight, he suddenly stopped rowing, leaned
on his oars, gave a sigh of relief, and exclaimed:

"Dar! I's safe now. I aint