, it's a party dress, isn't it?" my captain innocently wanted to
know. "And isn't it a bit too old for you?"

"I can have it made shorter," I said. "And if it is a little too old for
me it doesn't matter, because I'm never invited to any parties. I shan't
be for years, if ever. I shan't come out like my sister Di, I shall just
slowly _leak_ out, with nobody noticing. It isn't that I expect to
_wear_ this frock. It's the joy of having it which is so important."

"Girls begin to be queer evidently, even when they're children," said
he. "But that doesn't make them less interesting. I know of an
invitation to a party you _could_ have, though, if you wanted it. The
wife of our American ambassador is giving a ball to-morrow night. I know
her a little. She'd be awfully pleased to send your people cards for the
show, if I asked her. Or perhaps they've had cards already?"

I shook my head. "I'm sure they haven't. Are you going?"

"Yes, I've accepted."

"I know Diana would love it. I'll tell her about you--and about to-day,
for she can't be cross with me if it ends in an invitation. And you'd be
her _first_ flying man."

Even as I spoke I had a misgiving. It came like a cramp in the heart.
Di's nickname seemed to whisper itself in my ear: "Diana the
Huntress--Diana the Huntress!" I didn't want her to shoot her arrow
through this man's heart, because--well--_just because_. But they would
have to meet if he were not to be lost to me, since he refused to be a
partner in fibs. The idea seemed exactly the chance I had been looking
for; and if the invitation came through me, provided I were included by
the ambassadress, I didn't see how Di and Father could leave me out.

"All right, you shall have the card, I can promise that!" my captain
said cheerily.

"But," I haggled, "will the ambassadress ask a--a little girl like me,
who isn't out yet?"

"Of course she will. I'll see to that. Why shouldn't a little girl go
for once? Here is one partner for her."

To dance in the white dress, with him! The thing must be too good to be
true. Yet it really did seem as if it might come true.

He let me select the place for luncheon, and I chose the Zoo. He said I
couldn't have chosen better. It wasn't a very grand meal, but it was the
happiest I'd ever had. Captain March told me things about America, and
aeroplanes, though very little about himself--except that he was
stationed at a beautiful place in Arizona, called Fort Alvarado, close