Rosalind if you will; anything will do--only, for pity's sake, leave me
alone, and pretend there is not such a thing in the world as a
calendar!"

"Right you are!" said Robert, laughing. "I'll steer clear of the rocks!
And as it happens, I have got a piece of news that will put your doings
into the background at one fell swoop. Rosalind is going to give a
party! The Earl and Countess of Berkhampton are coming down to the
Larches the week after next, and are going to bring their two girls with
them. They are great lanky things, with about as much `go' in the pair
as in one of your little fingers; but this party is to be given in their
honour. The mater has asked everyone of a right age within a dozen
miles around, and the house will be crammed with visitors. Your card is
coming to-morrow, and I hope you will give me the honour of the first
round, and as many as possible after that."

"The first, with pleasure; I won't promise any more until I see how we
get on. It doesn't seem appropriate to think of your dancing, Rob;
there is something too heavy and serious in your demeanour. Oswald is
different; he would make a charming dancing master. Oh, it will be an
excitement! Mellicent will not be able to eat or sleep for thinking of
it; and poor Mrs Asplin will be running up seams on the sewing-machine,
and making up ribbon bows from this day to that. I'm glad I have a
dress all ready, and shan't be bothered with any trying on! You don't
know what it is to stand first on one leg and then on the other, to be
turned and pulled about as if you were a dummy, and have pins stuck into
you as if you were a pin-cushion! I adore pretty clothes, but every
time I go to the dressmaker's I vow and declare that I shall take to
sacks. Tell them at dinner, do, and they will talk about it for the
rest of the evening!"

Peggy's prophecy came true, for the subject of Rosalind's party became a
topic of such absorbing interest as left room for little else during the
next few weeks. New dresses had to be bought and made for the girls,
and Peggy superintended the operations of the village dressmaker with
equal satisfaction to herself and her friends.

Rosalind appeared engrossed in preparations, and two or three times a
week, as the girls trudged along the muddy roads, with Fraulein lagging
in the rear, the jingle of bells would come to their ears, and
Rosalind's two white long-tailed ponies would come dashing past, drawing
the li