inside, hang up a lantern to see by, and there you are, with a movable
concert platform ready to take round where we like."

The others looked at Neale with admiration. It was such a very brainy
idea, they wondered they had never thought of it for themselves. Time
was short, as the performance was to be that evening, so they dispersed
to make their arrangements. Ted Blackwood, a member of the church choir,
agreed to bring his father's cart.

"I'll take t'owd mare," he grinned. "Shoo's steady, and won't bolt when
th' harmonium starts. Aye, I've a big stable lantern as 'ull do too."

Here indeed was an excitement for a young American visitor. Diana could
hardly wait till tea was over and darkness fell. Fortunately it was a
fine evening, with a hint of frost in the air, so the expedition would
not be damped by rain. Mrs. Fleming insisted upon all the party being
very warmly clad, and brought out an old picture of "The Waits" to
demonstrate that the use of mufflers was an integral part of the
ceremony. Diana, to her delight, was lent a Red Ridinghood cloak of
Meg's, clad in which she felt that she had stepped back at least three
centuries, and was walking in the days of the Stuarts.

"I might be one of the pilgrims in the _Mayflower_!" she exclaimed.
"What would Dad give to see me? I wish you were coming too," she added
to Mrs. Fleming.

"I'm too busy, child, to-night," said Mrs. Fleming, kissing the roguish
little face framed in the red hood. "Enjoy yourselves, chicks! And,
Diana,"--with a warning finger held up--"_don't_, please, do anything
desperately amazing!"

"I'll be an absolute model of mild mediaeval maidenhood," promised that
damsel, with twinkling eyes.

They went first to the Blackwoods' farm, then, when Ted had harnessed
"t'owd mare", they proceeded with the cart to the schoolhouse, and,
after a good deal of heaving and hauling, lifted in the harmonium and a
stool for Miss Simpson, the schoolmistress, to sit upon while she
played. The rest of the party having joined them, they jogged along to
the first house on their list, that of Mrs. Holmes at the Old Grange
Farm. They drew up the cart outside the door, placed lanterns on the
harmonium, and saw Miss Simpson settled at the instrument--a matter of
some difficulty, as the cart sloped, and the stool was inclined to slide
away. Ted held the old mare by the bridle, in case the music might
revive her youthful spirits and cause her to bolt. The others groupe