"

Then he discovered that it was the same young lady who had asked for an
introduction to him the evening previous.

"Good morning, Miss Snodgrass!" he said politely, remembering,
fortunately, the young lady's name.

Meanwhile, Maria and Philip's drivers had also exchanged salutations,
for they were acquainted.

"And where are you carrying Mr. Gray, Mr. Blake?" she asked.

"I'm carrying him over to our place. He's going to play for us this
evening."

"Is there going to be a dance in Conway this evening?" inquired Miss
Snodgrass, with sudden interest.

"Yes. Won't you come over?"

"I will, if I can get Jedidiah to bring me," answered Maria.

"I guess there's no doubt about that," answered Andrew Blake, who knew
very well Jedidiah's devotion to the young lady.

"Oh, I don't know!" answered Maria coquettishly. "Perhaps he won't care
for my company."

"If he doesn't, you won't have any trouble in finding another beau."

After a little more conversation, the young lady drove away; but not
without expressing to Philip her delight at having another chance to
hear his beautiful playing.

"She'll be there," said Andrew Blake, as they drove away. "She makes
Jedidiah Burbank do just as she orders him."

"Are they engaged?" asked our hero.

"Yes, I expect so; but there may be some chance of your cutting him out,
if you try. The young lady seems to admire you."

Philip smiled.

"I am only a boy of sixteen," he said. "I am too young to think of such
things. I won't interfere with Mr. Burbank."

"Jedidiah's apt to be jealous," said Blake, "and Maria likes to torment
him. However, she'll end by marrying him, I guess."

In half an hour or thereabouts, Andrew Blake drew up at the gate of a
small but neat house on the main street in Conway. He was a carpenter,
as Philip afterward found, and had built the house himself. He was
probably of about the same age as Jonas Webb, and like him was married
to a young wife.

During the afternoon, Philip, being left pretty much to his own devices,
took a walk in and about the village, ascending a hill at one side,
which afforded him a fine view of that and neighboring villages.

He was pleasantly received and hospitably entertained at the house of
Mr. Blake, and about quarter of eight started out for the hall, at which
he was to play, in company with his host and hostess.

As they approached the hall, a young man approached them with a
perplexed face.

"What do you thin