ot, take Luna to the Fair?"

They were all grouped on the big piazza, after their early lunch,
waiting for the wagons to come from the stables and carry them to the
city beyond; and as Mrs. Betty asked this question a hush of surprise
fell on them all. Finally, said Helena:

"We have taken her, she has gone with us, on all our jaunts. Doesn't
it seem too bad to leave her out of this?"

One after another as the lady nodded to each to speak the answer was
frankly given, and Dorothy remarked:

"It's about half-and-half, I guess. Yes, I know she does go to sleep
in all sorts of queer places and at the strangest times, but I hate to
leave her."

"Then if she goes she must wear her own clothes."

"Why, Aunt Betty, please? Of course, I don't want to see her in that
red frock again--I'd like to burn that up so nobody would ever see it
and be reminded how careless and unjust I was. But there's a pretty
blue one she could have."

"That's not my reason, dearie. I think it has been a mistake, kindly
meant, to dress her as you have; that is for longer than was necessary
to freshen her own soiled things." She paused and Alfy remarked:

"She's the proudest thing for them bright colors. Red, and green, and
blue--ary one just sets her smilin'. Besides, once Dinah tried to put
back her old brown dress and Luna wouldn't let her. Just folded her
arms up tight and didn't--didn't look a mite pleasant."

Those who had seen Luna on the rare occasions when she showed anger
smiled at this mild description of her appearance then.

"I don't know as Dinah would be bothered with her, Aunt Betty, and
Norah has a sick headache. But--I'll stay and take care of her if you
don't want her to go," said Dorothy.

It was an effort to say this and dreading that her offer might be
accepted the girl turned her face away to hide her disappointment; but
whatever Mrs. Calvert's answer might have been she was not to hear it
then.

Because there was Jim Barlow beckoning to her in a mysterious manner
from behind a great hydrangea bush and looking vastly excited over
something. So it was a relief to murmur: "Excuse me a minute, Aunt
Betty," and to respond to that summons.

"Dolly, there's a man here wants to see you."

"A man? To see me? and not Aunt Betty? Who is he?"

Jim answered rather impatiently to this string of questions.

"I said a man, didn't I. He said he'd rather see you because he knows
you, that is you gave him a lift on the road once