Laughing allusions to the maid of honor and Ca'line Allison were bandied back and forth, and when the line grew unusually straggling, Kitty would bring them into step with her, "One, two, three--_throw_!" Neither Lloyd nor Alex noticed the determined silence in which Bernice stalked along, and when she presently slipped back with the excuse that she wanted to speak to Katie, they scarcely missed her.

There was nothing unusual in the action, as all the others were changing company at intervals.

At the entrance-gate to The Beeches she joined them again, for her nearest road home led through the Walton place, and they were to part company here with Lloyd and her guests.
For a few minutes there was a babel of good-nights and parting sallies, in the midst of which Alex Shelby managed to say to Lloyd in a low tone, "Miss Lloyd, I am coming out to the Valley again a week from to-day.

If you haven't any engagement for the afternoon will you go horseback-riding with me ?" The consciousness that Bernice had heard the invitation and was displeased, confused her so that for a moment she lost her usual ease of manner.

She wanted to go, and there was no reason why she should not accept, but all she could manage to stammer was an embarrassed, "Why, yes--I suppose so." But the next instant recovering herself, she added, graciously, "Yes, Mistah Shelby, I'll be glad to go." "Come on, Lloyd," urged Betty, swinging her hand to pull her into the group now drawn up on the side of the road ready to start.