do--in the store I mean."

"Mr. Ward would be mighty interested."

"I dare say."

"Miranda says you're beginning to put on considerable airs, since
you've been turning your hair up, Paul Shaw. When I put my hair up,
I'm going on being just as nice and friendly with folks, as before,
you'll see."

Pauline laughed, which was not at all to Patience's liking. "All the
same, mind what I say," she warned.

"Can I help choose?" Patience asked, as they reached the store.

"If you like." Pauline went through to the little annex devoted to
wall papers and carpetings. It was rather musty and dull in there,
Patience thought; she would have liked to make a slow round of the
whole store, exchanging greetings and various confidences with the
other occupants. The store was a busy place on Saturday morning, and
Patience knew every man, woman and child in Winton.

They had got their samples and Pauline was lingering before a new line
of summer dressgoods just received, when the young fellow in charge of
the post-office and telegraph station called to her: "I say, Miss Shaw,
here's a message just come for you."

"For me--" Pauline took it wonderingly. Her hands were trembling, she
had never received a telegram before--Was Hilary? Then she laughed at
herself. To have sent a message, Mr. Boyd would have first been
obliged to come in to Winton.

Out on the sidewalk, she tore open the envelope, not heeding Patience's
curious demands. It was from her uncle, and read--

"Have some one meet the afternoon train Saturday, am sending you an aid
towards your summer's outings."

"Oh," Pauline said, "do hurry, Patience. I want to get home as fast as
I can."

CHAPTER IV

BEGINNINGS

Sunday afternoon, Pauline and Patience drove over to The Maples to see
Hilary. They stopped, as they went by, at the postoffice for Pauline
to mail a letter to her uncle, which was something in the nature of a
very enthusiastic postscript to the one she had written him Friday
night, acknowledging and thanking him for his cheque, and telling him
of the plans already under discussion.

"And now," Patience said, as they turned out of the wide main street,
"we're really off. I reckon Hilary'll be looking for us, don't you?"

"I presume she will," Pauline answered.

"Maybe she'll want to come back with us."

"Oh, I don't believe so. She knows mother wants her to stay the week
out. Listen, Patty--"

Patience sat up and took notice.