guests at
this dance, and will have nobody who isn't ready for a good time in
every unconventional way. I warn you, Mr. Kendrick, who are used to
leading cotillions, you may have to dance the Virginia reel with one of
the dear little country cousins. I wonder if you will have the
discernment to see that some of them are better worth meeting than a
good many of the girls you probably know."

She gave him a keen, analyzing look. Small and sweet as she was, clearly
she belonged to this singular Gray family as if she had been born in it.
He met her look unflinchingly. Then his glance fell to little Gordon.

"You trusted me with the boy," said he. "I think you may trust me with
the little country cousin--if she will do me the honour."

"I will see that you have the chance," she assured him, and he went away
feeling like a boy who has been promised a long-desired and despaired-of
treat.

But it was not of the Virginia reel he was thinking as he went swinging
away down the wintry street.

* * * * *

They were sitting, most of them, before the living-room fire, discussing
the plans for the week of the house-party, when Rosamond broke the news.

"I've taken a great liberty," said she serenely, "for which I hope
you'll all forgive me. I've--tentatively--promised Mr. Kendrick an
invitation to the Christmas dance."

There was a shout from Louis and Ted together. Ruth beamed with delight.
Across the fireplace Roberta shot at her sister-in-law one rebellious
glance.

"I knew I had no right to do it," admitted Rosamond gayly. "But I knew
we always asked a few young people to swell the company to the dancing
size, and I was sure you couldn't ask anybody who would appreciate it
more."

"Hasn't the poor fellow a chance at any other merry-making?" mocked
Louis. "Poor little millionaire! Won't anybody invite him to lead a
Christmas Eve cotillion? I believe there's to be a most gorgeous affair
of the sort at Mrs. Van Tassel Grieve's that night. Has he been
inadvertently overlooked? Not with Miss Gladys Grieve to oversee the
list of the lucky ones, I'll wager. It's a wonder he hadn't accepted
that invitation before you got in yours."

"I didn't get mine in," was Rosamond's demure rejoinder. "I laid it in
an humbly beseeching hand."

"How on earth did he know there was to be a dance here?" Stephen
inquired.

"I mentioned it."

"I had already told him of it," put in Judge Gray from the backgro