hall won't be needed for any more miner's meetings, so I suppose
_we_ may have it now."

"I should think we shall be able to get it easily enough," agreed Mabel,
"What a deal of good has grown out of our little venture."

"Yes, is it not splendid to think of--and oh, don't you think we might
go round to Rowson's to-night and secure the hall?"

"I think we might, the sooner it's settled the better."

They were soon ready, and walked slowly along, enjoying the sweetness of
the lovely evening. Not far from the door they met Archie coming at a
terrible pace, his face as bright and glowing as the sunset sky; without
stopping to consider that he was on the public road, or regarding the
amused look of passers-by, he caught Minnie round the neck and kissed
her, and would in all probability have done the same to Mabel, if
Seymour had not come up at that moment, and demanded of him what he
meant by "making such an ass of himself."

Unabashed by Seymour's description of his conduct, Archie replied that
Minnie understood him, and did not object, which statement she instantly
corroborated.

He next enquired where they were going, and on their errand being
explained both boys volunteered to accompany them, being of opinion that
they were better fitted to carry out arrangements of such a nature than
young ladies in general--a view which Mabel and Minnie both warmly
protested against.

"But I think you had better go home, Archie," said Minnie with a look
which he was not slow to interpret and respond to.

"All right!" he replied cheerfully. Then in an undertone as Seymour and
Mabel walked on, "you understand, Min, it _is_ all right."

"Yes dear, I understand, and I _am_ so glad," she returned in such an
affectionate voice, that Archie was moved to kiss her again, and then
she ran off after the other two, feeling that her heart was almost too
full of happiness.

When the trio arrived at Mr. Rowson's he was out, but they were desired
to wait for his coming as he had left word that if any of the young
ladies from the Hollow called, he wished particularly to see them.
Accordingly, they sat down as requested, and in the course of ten
minutes the gentleman himself appeared.

"I suppose you have come about the hall," he observed, addressing
Minnie, after they had exchanged greetings.

"Exactly," she replied, "we guessed it would be vacant now, as the
miners' dispute is settled."

"Thanks to you and your kind-hearted friends,"