CHAPTER Tenth.
"Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." -- Luke vi, 87.
Calhoun Conly was much perturbed by the occurrences of the evening.

He was fond of his cousin Elsie and her children, and very sorry, for both her sake and theirs, that they had suffered this fright; he greatly respected and liked Mr.Travilla too, and would fain have stood well in his esteem; he had hoped that he did; and also with his Uncle Horace,--he had been so kindly treated, especially of late, at both Ion and the Oaks; but now this unfortunate episode had placed him in a false position, and he could hardly expect to be again trusted or believed in.
Such were his cogitations as he sat alone in the veranda, after the Ion carriage had driven away.

"What shall I do ?" he asked himself, "what shall I do to recover their good opinion ?" Just then Walter appeared before him, looking crestfallen and angry.
"I say, Cal, it's bad enough for you to have thrashed me as you did, without bringing mother and Aunt Enna, and maybe grandfather too, down on me about those wretched masks and things; so give 'em up and let Dick and me put 'em back before they get home." "Of course put them back as fast as you can; pity you hadn't let them alone," said Calhoun, rising and with a quick step leading the way toward the nursery, "and," he added, "we must see what we can do to keep the young ones from blabbing; else putting them back will help your case very little." "Oh we'll never be able to do that!" exclaimed Walter, despairingly, "one or another of 'em is sure to let it out directly.

And there come the folks now," as the rolling of wheels was heard in the avenue.

"It's of no use; they'll know all about it in five minutes." "Yes, sir, you and Dick have got yourselves into a fine box, beside all the trouble you've made for other people," said Calhoun angrily.