floor, where a magnificent feast was prepared at
the farther end. The whole centre of the marquee was got ready for
dancing, and a number of young people whom Pauline had never seen before
were standing about in little knots, evidently waiting for the arrival of
the farmer and his family.

"There!" said Nancy. "Now, Paulie, what do you think? Here's feasting for
you at this end, and there's dancing at the other, and if the Kings don't
do things in style I don't know who do."

"Ah, Miss King, and how are you?"

"Pleased to see you, I'm sure," was Nancy's response.

A bashful-looking young man with sandy hair and light-blue eyes now came
forward. He was followed by a girl of similar type, and the two were
introduced to Pauline as Mr. and Miss Minchin. The Minchins were
accompanied by other neighbors, and the Dale girls found themselves in
the midst of a party numbering at least fifty people.

Pauline felt suddenly shy. As a rule she was not remarkable for this
quality. She had a certain pretty assurance, and never, as her sisters
expressed it, lost her head; but now her principal desire was to creep
into her shell, not to answer the inane remarks made by the young men of
the party, and on no account to allow them to put their arms round her
waist and carry her round in the dance. Her face grew first red, then
pale. She realized that she was very tired, and more than ever did she
wish that she had never yielded to Nancy's enticements.

Patty and Briar, on the other hand, were enjoying themselves very much.
They had done this very naughty thing on account of Pauline; they were
glad they were helping her--their consciences did not trouble them in the
least. They leant upon Pauline more than they were themselves aware of.
If trouble came, she would of course shield them. At present there was no
trouble. A picnic in the middle of the night, miles away from home, was
the most exciting thing they had ever imagined. It beat the joys of the
birthday hollow. They were quite aware that by-and-by there would perhaps
be repentance, but who could think of repentance now, with the feast--and
such a feast!--on the board, and Fiddler Joe making such exquisite, mad,
intoxicating music (it caused your feet to twitch so that they could
scarcely keep still), and that floor as smooth as glass, and the summer
moon entering through a chink in the big tent, and the gayly dressed
people, and all the merry voices? Oh, it was an intoxicating ti