gether, and it was
seldom that any Corner House girl found real pleasure away from the
others. Ruth's only cross was that Agnes would drag Neale O'Neil into
their good times.

Not that Ruth had anything against the white-haired boy. In spite of the
fact that Neale was brought up in a circus--his uncle was Mr. Bill
Sorber of Twomley & Sorber's Herculean Circus and Menagerie--he was
quite the nicest boy the Corner House girls knew. But Ruth did not
approve of boys at all; and she thought Agnes rude and slangy enough at
times without having her so much in the company of a real boy like
Neale.

She suggested a drive into the country for this late September Saturday,
chestnuts being their main object, there having been a sharp frost. Of
course Neale had to arrange for the hiring of the livery team, and the
stableman refused to let them have a spirited span of horses unless
Neale drove.

"Well, get an automobile then!" exclaimed Agnes. "It's only three
dollars an hour, with a man to drive, at Acton's garage. Goodness knows
I'm just _crazy_ to ride in an auto--one of those big, beautiful
seven-passenger touring cars. I wish we could have one, Ruthie!"

"I wish we could," said Ruth, for she, too, was automobile hungry like
the rest of the world.

"Do! _do!_ ask Mr. Howbridge," begged Agnes.

"Not for the world," returned Ruth, decidedly. "He'd think we were
crazy, indeed. There is money enough to educate us, and clothe and feed
us; but I do not believe that Uncle Peter's estate will stand the drain
of automobiles--no indeed!"

"Well," sighed Agnes. "We're lucky to have Neale about. You know very
well if it were not for him the livery man would give us a pair of
dead-and-alive old things. Mr. Skinner knows Neale is to be trusted with
any horse in his stable."

This was true enough; but it added Neale O'Neil to the party. When they
were about to depart from the old Corner House there was another
unexpected member added to the company.

Tess and Dot were squeezed in beside Neale on the front seat. Ruth and
Agnes occupied the back of the carriage with wraps and boxes and baskets
of eatables. This was to be an all day outing with a picnic dinner in
the chestnut woods.

"All aboard?" queried Neale, flourishing the whip. "Got everything?
Haven't left anything good to eat behind, have you?"

"Oh, you boys!" groaned Ruth. "Always thinking of your stomachs."

"Well! why were stomachs put in front of us, if not to be thoug