olly Robin.

"It's rather short notice," Rusty Wren observed.

"Mr. Crow has been keeping the message for you for some time,"
Jolly Robin explained. "He said he thought it would be more of a
surprise if you didn't know about the party too soon."

"We'll be there, anyhow," Rusty's wife interrupted behind her
husband's back. She had been listening with a good deal of interest
to Jolly's message.

"But you're not invited," Jolly Robin told her. "This is a men's
party--so Mr. Crow says."

"You may tell old Mr. Crow that my husband won't be able to be
present," Mrs. Rusty Wren snapped. "He's going to be very busy
to-morrow, for he promised to help me with my house-cleaning."

Rusty Wren looked worried. But he said nothing more just then. He
wanted to go to his cousin's party. But he did not like to argue
with his wife, especially in the presence of a neighbor.

Soon Jolly Robin said he must go back to the orchard, because he
had to take care of his children while his wife went out to make a
call.

Mrs. Rusty did not urge him to stay. And, since she seemed upset
over something, Rusty thought it just as well if their visitor did
not linger there too long.

"I was just going to the orchard myself to hunt for insects," said
Rusty. "So I'll go with you."

Mrs. Rusty shot a quick look at him.

"Remember! You're going to be busy at home to-morrow!" she warned
him.

"Yes! yes!" he said. And he seemed in a bit of a hurry to get to
the orchard--it couldn't have been _to get away from home_.

XXI

OFF TO BLACK CREEK

As soon as they reached the orchard, Jolly Robin exclaimed,
"There's old Mr. Crow now, over there on the fence! He's come back
to get your answer and take it to Long Bill Wren. I'll have to tell
him you're sorry--but you're going to be too busy to-morrow to go
to the party."

"Tell him----" said Rusty Wren--"tell him that _although_ I expect
to be busy, I am going to my cousin's party just the same."

Jolly Robin stopped and sat down on a branch of an apple tree, he
was so surprised. "My dear sir!" he cried. "You seem to have
forgotten that your wife said you wouldn't be able to accept Long
Bill's invitation."

"My wife----" said Rusty Wren--"my wife sometimes makes mistakes.
And this is one of them. I wouldn't miss my cousin's party for
anything. And I don't intend to, either."

"Good!" cried Jolly Robin. "I'm glad to see that you don't let your
wife manage your affairs, though I _have_