o the
world," said Billy. "The less said about a little old knot like me the
better for--better for the knot."

"You are not a knot," cried Rita indignantly.

"Rita," said Dic, "you know the walnut knot, while it shows the roughest
bark, has the finest grain in the tree."

"I am going home if you don't stop that sort of talking," said Billy,
pleased to his toes, but pretending to be annoyed.

A fortnight before Dic's intended departure for New York an opportunity
presented itself of which the young man, after due consideration,
determined to take advantage. He walked over one evening to see Tom,
but, as usual, found Rita. After a few minutes in which to work his
courage up, he said:--

"There is to be a church social at Scott's to-morrow night--the
Baptists. I wonder if you would like--that is, would want to--would be
willing to go with me?"

"I would be glad to go," answered the girl; "but mother won't let me."

"We'll go in and ask her, if you wish," he replied.

"There's no use, but we can try. Perhaps if she thinks I don't want to
go, she will consent."

Into the house they went, and Dic made his wants known to the head of
the family.

"No," snapped the good lady, "she can't go. Girls of sixteen and
seventeen nowadays think they are young ladies."

"They are dull, anyway," said Rita, referring to church socials. "I have
heard they are particularly dull at Scott's--the Baptists are so
religious. Sukey Yates said they did nothing but preach and pray and
sing psalms and take up a collection at the last social Scott gave.
It's just like church, and I don't want to go anyway." She had never
been to a church social, but from what she had heard she believed them
to be bacchanalian scenes of riotous enjoyment, and her remarks were
intended to deceive.

"You should not speak so disrespectfully of the church," said the Chief
Justice, sternly. "The Lord will punish you for it, see if He doesn't.
Since I think about it, the socials held at Scott's are true, religious,
God-fearing gatherings, and you shall go as a punishment for your
sacrilegious sneers. Perhaps if you listen to the Word, it may come back
after many days." Margarita, Sr., often got her Biblical metaphors
mixed, but that troubled her little. There was, she thought, virtue in
scriptural quotations, even though entirely inapplicable to the case in
point.

"Come for her to-morrow evening, Dic," said Mrs. B. "She shall be
ready." Then turning to Rit