avy a load, even
for our strong draft horses to draw so long a way over such rough roads."

"And that last was an undeniable fact."

"Of course it was! So I offered to take my party on and return later for
the others. But Miss Grandiere urged that that would be too late for
them."

"She was right again."

"Certainly! But then Roland came to the rescue, and offered to drive the
second party over here in the mule cart, and so it was settled that he
should do so. While we were talking, Mrs. Elk came in, and, of course, I
had to invite her."

"She never goes out in the evening," said Odalite.

"No, of course not. And so she explained, and we excused her. And there
they all come now! I hear the cart! I must go and see to them."

"And I, too," said Odalite, "must go and take the ladies and children
upstairs."

And the young pair left the room together to receive the visitors, who
had, by this time, entered the hall.

"Ah, this is just as it should be," said Miss Grandiere to Miss Bayard, as
they saw Leonidas and Odalite approaching together.

"Yes, and a heap better than it might have been. If you knew as much as I
do, you would say so, too!"

"What do you mean?" inquired Miss Grandiere, in a low voice.

"Hush! Here they are!" whispered Miss Bayard, as the two young people came
up, with outstretched hands and eager voices, to welcome the visitors.

"You are in very good time! the dancing has not yet commenced," said
Odalite, after the first greetings were passed.

"It is not yet seven o'clock," added Le.

And Odalite took off the two ladies and the three children to the warm
dressing room to lay off their wraps, while Le carried off Roland to his
own den, to brush his hair.

"My dear Odalite, I am so glad to see you looking so well," said Miss
Grandiere, when they had reached the chamber.

"I haven't seen her looking so bright for weeks. And that is right, sez
I," added Miss Sibby.

"Thank you. Everybody tells me that," said Odalite, smiling.

Miss Grandiere was dressed in a rich, black silk, with a white lace fichu
and white lace cuffs, and her black hair was plaited and wound into a roll
at the top of her head and fastened with a very high back comb. Her front
hair was divided in the middle and wound into curls, two down each
temple.

Miss Sibby wore a plain black silk and a book-muslin cap, with a full lace
border and white satin bows and strings.

The two little Elk girls, aged ten and twelve, w