es stood watching the
two girls with grave, approving face; and Naomi, who was only a young
servant, did not presume to join these two, and wished she'd kept her
tongue still.

[Illustration: 'Ask the band to play "La Rinka," Sarah,' cried Horatia.
PAGE 105.]

'Ask the band to play "La Rinka," Sarah,' cried Horatia, 'and we'll go
round together and dance it.'

The band, a local one, struck up 'La Rinka,' and even Mr Clay exclaimed,
'That's something to look at, Polly, ain't it? There ought to be some
folk asked to see 'em do it.'

At that moment Horatia and Sarah, still with linked hands, skated up to
them, and Sarah said, 'Horatia wishes we could have a skating-party this
afternoon. It sounds rather absurd in August; but really the weather is
more like November, so I dare say people will like to come.'

'They'll come right enough if I ask 'em to Balmoral,' said Mr Clay, with
his usual laugh. 'There's not many refuses my invitations.'

Sarah felt her lip curl; but the thought of Horatia checked her. She gave
her a quick look to see if she, too, was disgusted at this boasting, and
felt almost cross with her schoolfellow when, with a bright smile, she
answered, 'Then do ask them, Mr. Clay. I don't wonder that your
invitations are popular; you do have such good ideas for entertaining
your guests. When could we have them? To-morrow?'

'You'd better have them to-day. Who knows but to-morrow may be summer
again, and then it'll be too hot for rinking. We'll just 'phone up a
hundred or so.'

'A hundred?' gasped Horatia, as she thought of the preparation a party of
that kind would require at her own home.

'Oh, they won't all be able to come, but half will; and mother'll give
orders for the spread. And now I must be off. Good-bye, and enjoy
yourselves.' And the millionaire, with a brusque nod, was off.

Mrs Clay soon followed him, and the girls skated for another hour, and
then decided to stop, so as not to be tired for the afternoon.

'Well, mother, have you got victuals for seventy or so?' inquired Mark
Clay when they all met at lunch.

'Yes, Mark, the _chef_ is seein' to all that, an' 'e is sure to 'ave
everythin' to do you credit.'

'That's right. I've ordered the Ousebank band up, and I met Bill down
town, and asked him up. He says he can't rink, but he supposes you'll
want some to admire you, so he's coming to do that part. He's a great
admirer of Miss Horatia already, it appears.'

'I like him most awful