hat was it--a new wine-colored silk with black lace
trimming. If Mr. Thorndyke admired her in last winter's dingy red
merino, how would he be dazzled by the wine-colored silk? In fifteen
minutes her rapid toilet was made, and looking charming in her holiday
attire she came running back to Uncle Reuben. The sleigh was drawn up
before the door; she sprang into her seat beside him. Aunt Hetty, in the
doorway, was smiling good-by, the bells jingled, the whip cracked, Kitty
tossed her head and darted away into the frosty morning sunshine.

"_Not_ going to the city, uncle!" cried Norine "now, where on earth can
you be taking me?"

"To Merryweather's my dear," calmly responded Uncle Reuben, "where you
have been teasing me to take you these three months. There! ain't that a
pleasant surprise?"

There was a blank silence for a moment--the silence of great amaze. He
looked at her askance. A surprise beyond a doubt, but a pleasant one.
Well, that was another question. Her face had changed ominously all in a
moment.

"To Merryweather's?" she repeated. "Thirty miles!"

"Exactly, my dear--to stay two or three weeks, as they've been wanting
you to do. I didn't tell you, because I wanted to surprise you. I knew
you would be pleased to death."

"But uncle I can't!" exclaimed the girl, vehemently. "I can't go. I have
nothing to wear. My trunk and all my things are at home."

"Jest so; the cutter wouldn't hold your trunk; but Joe, he's going out
'bout the end of the week, and he'll fetch it. Make your mind easy, my
dear; Aunt Hetty will forget nothin'."

Norine made no reply. The sunny face wore the darkest expression Uncle
Reuben had ever seen it wear yet. Was Mr. Gilbert right--was the
mischief done--was it too late, after all?

He drove on. The blank silence lasted. He had never dreamed the laughing
face of his little Norine could wear the look it wore now. She spoke
after a long pause, in a tone of sullen inquiry:

"I wish you had told me last night, Uncle Reuben. It seems very odd
going off in this way. What will Mr. Thorndyke say?"

"What business is it of his?" placidly inquired Uncle Reuben.

An angry flush rose up over Norine's face.

"He will think it very strange--_very_ strange; I did not even say
good-by."

"I'll explain all that."

"And Aunt Hetty--how will she ever get along without me, with the house
work to do, and Mr. Thorndyke to wait on, and everything."

"He won't be to wait on long, he'll be able