's. Long after the conversation passed to other
topics, Mary puzzled over the fact that the three knightliest-looking
men she knew, the three who, she supposed, would make ideal lovers, had
laughed at one of the most romantic situations in all poesy, and had
agreed that Elaine was silly and sentimental. Maybe, she thought with
burning cheeks, maybe they would think she was just as bad if they knew
how she had admired Elaine and imagined herself in her place, and
actually cried over the poor maiden who loved so fondly and so truly
that she could die of a broken heart.

When she reflected that Lloyd, too, had agreed with them, she began to
think that her own ideals might need reconstructing. She was glad that
Phil's smile had seemed to say that he took it for granted that she
would have been inflexible to the extent of making mud pies on
Lancelot's shield. Unconsciously her reconstruction began then and
there, for although the seeds sown by the laughing discussion at the
picnic table lay dormant in her memory many years, they blossomed into a
saving common sense at last, that enabled her to see the humorous side
of the most sentimental situation, and gave her wisdom to meet it as it
deserved.

The outdoor tableaux that night proved to be one of the most successful
entertainments ever given in the Valley. A heavy wire, stretched from
one beech-tree to another, held the curtains that hid the impromptu
stage. The vine-covered tea-house and a dense clump of shrubbery formed
the background. Rows of Japanese lanterns strung from the gate to the
house, and from pillar to pillar of the wide porches, gave a festive
appearance to the place, but they were not really needed. The full moon
flooded the lawn with a silvery radiance, and as the curtains parted
each time, a flash of red lights illuminated the tableaux.

It was like a glimpse of fairy-land to Mary, and she had the double
enjoyment of watching the arrangement of each group behind the scenes,
and then hurrying back with Elise to their chairs in the front row,
just as Ranald gave the signal to burn the red lights.

There was the usual confusion in the dressing-room, the tea-house having
been taken for that purpose. There was more than usual in some
instances, for while the fete had been planned for some time, the
tableaux were an afterthought, and many details had been overlooked.
Still, with slight delays, they moved along toward a successful finish.

Group by group pos