ed.

How much there was for the two little friends to talk about the next
day! Gilbert and Fluff had started off at an early hour to bring home
the pony-cart, and early in the afternoon Betty Hastings came to see
Ruth. She knew nothing about the adventure of the day before, and
listened eagerly to Ruth and Winifred as they told of the lonely road,
the coming of darkness, and of the deer and fawn that Ruth had seen.

The two younger girls looked at Betty admiringly as they all sat
together in Mrs. Pernell's front room. Betty's smooth brown curls under
her pretty white straw hat, her shining brown eyes and pleasant smile,
and the pretty dress of blue and white plaid, made her well worth their
approving glances. Both Ruth and Winifred wondered to themselves why it
was that Betty's hands were always clean, her hair smooth, and her dress
always neat and in order. They decided, as they had often done before,
that it was because Betty was so nearly grown up, nearly thirteen. They
were quite sure that being tidy and careful was a gift that came with
years.

Ruth always liked to have Betty come to see her.

"It's just like really being grown up when Betty comes," she had
explained to her mother, "because we always sit in the front room, and
never play dolls." So this afternoon when Mrs. Pernell brought in a tray
with the little silver pitcher and sugar bowl, the luster teapot, and
the treasured Canton cups and saucers, together with a plate of round
frosted cakes, and Ruth had the pleasure of giving Betty and Winifred a
cup of "real tea" she felt herself the most fortunate little girl in
Philadelphia.

"'Tis not a taxed tea," Mrs. Pernell declared smilingly; for Americans
had refused to receive any tea on which the Government of Great Britain
demanded an unlawful tax.

"I came to ask you and Winifred to a May party," said Betty, when she
was ready to start for home. "My mother says I may invite a dozen girls
to go Maying to some pleasant place on the river, where we can gather
flowers, put up a May-pole, and have a picnic lunch. Mother will get
some one to drive us all out in a big wagon."

Both Ruth and Winifred were delighted at the invitation, and thanked
Betty. May-day was nearly two weeks distant, but they were glad to have
so pleasant an invitation. And the front door had hardly closed behind
their visitor when Ruth exclaimed:

"We must begin on that table right away, Winifred, so that it will
surely be finished