Mother wants you to wind balls for the rag carpet." And then Ezra Ray, with disconsolate gaping face over his shoulder, retreated with awkward lopes across the field, the cow-bell accompanying his steps with doleful notes.
There were about forty young people at the party when all were assembled.

They came mostly in couples, although now and then a little group of girls advanced across the field, and young men came singly.

Barnabas Thayer came alone, and rather late; Rebecca had come some time before with one of her girl mates who had stopped for her.
Barnabas, slender and handsome in his best suit, advancing with a stern and almost martial air, tried not to see Charlotte Barnard; but it was as if her face were the natural focus for his eyes, which they could not escape.

However, Charlotte was not talking to Thomas Payne; he was not even very near her.

He was already in the top of a cherry-tree picking busily.