he should
leave the car and his comrades. There was nothing for it but to leave
him there and report to his mother their failure.

"I might have known," she said. "He would never come to a stranger's
house in his old clothes. I will just bring down his best suit after
tea."

The dinner hour at Dr. Brown's was fully occupied with an animated
recital of the adventures of the afternoon. Each member of the car party
was described with an accuracy and fulness of detail that would have
surprised him.

"And you know, Papa," said the little maid, "Tom just laughed at Larry
because he could not play baseball and things, and I just told him that
Larry could play the mouth organ lovely and the fiddle, and they laughed
and laughed. I think they were laughing at me. Tom laughed loudest of
all, and he's not so smart himself, and anyway Larry passed the entrance
a year ago and I just told him so."

"Oh, did you," said her father, "and how did Master Tom take that?"

"He didn't laugh quite as much. I don't think I like him very much."

"Ah?"

"But Hazel, she was just lovely to Larry. I think she's nice, Papa, and
such lovely cheeks and hair." Here Jane sighed.

"Oh, has she? She is quite a grown-up young lady, is she not?"

"She has her hair up, Papa. She's sixteen, you know."

"I remember you told me that she had reached that mature age."

"And I think Larry liked her, too."

"Ah? And why do you think so?"

"He just looked at her, and looked, and looked."

"Well, that seems fairly good evidence."

"And he is coming up here to-night when we bring him his good clothes."

"Oh, you are to bring him his good clothes, are you?"

"Yes, Mrs. Gwynne and I are taking them down in the carriage."

"Oh, in the carriage--Mrs. Gwynne--"

"Yes, you know--Oh, here's Nora at the door. Excuse me, Papa. I am sure
it is important."

She ran to the door and in a moment or two returned with a note. "It's
for you, Papa, and I know it's about the carriage." She watched her
father somewhat anxiously as he read the note.

"Umm-um. Very good, very nice and proper. Certainly. Just say to
Mrs. Gwynne that we are very pleased to be able to serve her with the
carriage, and that we hope Larry will do us the honour of coming to us."

Jane nodded delightedly. "I know, Papa. I told her that already. But
I'll tell her this is the answer to the note."

Under Jane's direction and care they made their visit to the car, but on
their return no La