us to
learn what choice morsel life had in store for me now. It's one that
will be bitter on my tongue to the day of my death."

"Oh, Kate, I as so sorry that if this had to happen, it happened in
just that way," said Nancy Ellen, "but don't mind. They're only
foolish kids!"

"Who? Mr. and Mrs. Peters, and the neighbours, who attended the
wedding! Foolish kids? Oh, no!" said Kate. "Where's Adam?"

"I told him I'd bring you out," said Robert.

"Why didn't he send for you, or do something?" demanded Kate.

"I'm afraid the facts are that Polly lied to him," said Robert. "She
told him that Peters were having a party, and Mrs. Peters wanted her to
come early and help her with the supper. They had the Magistrate out
from town and had the ceremony an hour before Adam got there. When he
arrived, and found out what had happened, he told Polly and the Peters
family exactly his opinion of them; and then he went home and turned on
all the lights, and sat where he could be seen on the porch all
evening, as a protest in evidence of his disapproval, I take it."

Slowly the colour began to creep back into Kate's face. "The good
boy!" she said, in commendation.

"He called me at once, and we talked it over and I sent you the
telegram; but as he said, it was done; there was no use trying to undo
it. One thing will be a comfort to you. All of your family, and
almost all of your friends, left as soon as Adam spoke his piece, and
they found it was a wedding and not a party to which they'd been
invited. It was a shabby trick of Peters."

Kate assented. "It was because I felt instinctively that Mrs. Peters
had it in her to do tricks like that, that I never would have anything
to do with her," said Kate, "more than to be passing civil. This is
how she gets her revenge, and her hired girl, for no wages, I'll be
bound! It's a shabby trick. I'm glad Adam saved me the trouble of
telling her so."

Robert took Nancy Ellen home, and then drove to Bates Corners with Kate.

"In a few days now I hope we can see each other oftener," he said, on
the way. "I got a car yesterday, and it doesn't seem so complicated.
Any intelligent person can learn to drive in a short time. I like it
so much, and I knew I'd have such constant use for it that--now this is
a secret--I ordered another for Nancy Ellen, so she can drive about
town, and run out here as she chooses. Will she be pleased?"

"She'll be overjoyed! That was dear of you,