y, "why not specially invite that
delightful couple--the one they call 'Uncle Rufus' and his wife?"

"An excellent idea," Mr. Kendrick agreed, "though they might not be
willing to make the change at so late an hour."

"People who were dancing with spirit ten minutes ago will be ready to
travel right now," prophesied Richard. He took flying leaps up the
stairs in pursuit of Louis. Catching him on the next floor, he made his
request known. Louis received it without sign of surprise, but inwardly,
as he hurried away, he was speculating upon what agencies could be at
work with the young man, that he should be so eager to do this deed of
extraordinary friendliness.

Mrs. Gray hesitated over Matthew Kendrick's invitation, although her
hospitable home was already crowded to the roof-tree. But, taking Judge
Calvin Gray into her counsels, she was so strongly advised by him to
accept the offer that she somewhat reluctantly consented to do so.

"It's great, Eleanor, simply great!" he urged. "It will do my friend
Matthew mere good than anything that has happened to him in a
twelvemonth. As for young Richard--from what I've seen to-night you've
nothing to fear from his part in the affair. Let them have Rufus and
Ruth--they'll enjoy it hugely. And give them as many more as will
relieve the congestion. Matthew could take care of a regiment in that
stone barracks of his."

"Sending Rufus and Ruth would give me quite space enough," she declared.
"Rufus has the largest room in the house, and I could put this last
party there. It is really very kind of Mr. Kendrick, and I shall be glad
to solve my problem in that way, since you think it best."

Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Gray, having the question put to them, acceded to it
with readiness. Both had been warmly drawn toward Richard, and though
his grandfather had seemed to them a figure of somewhat unnecessarily
dignified reserve, the mere fact of his extending the invitation at all
was to them sufficient proof of his cordiality.

"It's nothing at all to pack up," Mrs. Rufus asserted. "I'll just take
what I need for the night, and we'll be coming over for the tree in the
morning, so I can get my other things then. I shall call it a real treat
to be inside the home of such a wealthy man. How lonely he must be,
living in such a great house, with only his grandson!"

So Aunt Ruth descended the stairs, wearing her little gray silk bonnet
and a heavy cape of gray cloth, her hand on her husband's