handkerchiefs; but Bab had eyes for Beauty only. A stable
boy had come to lead the horse away.

[Illustration: Barbara and Beauty Swayed an Instant in the Air.]

"Good-bye, you little Beauty!" Bab whispered, with her brown head close
to the horse's face. "You are the dearest little horse in the world.
Don't I wish you were my very own!"

Ambassador Morton overheard Bab's speech.

"Let me give the horse to you, Miss Thurston," he urged. "It will give me
the greatest pleasure, if you will allow it. He ought to belong to you
for the pretty piece of riding you did out in the field. Let me
congratulate you. Beauty's compliments and mine to the young girl who has
been her own riding teacher."

A warm wave of color swept over Barbara's face. "I did not mean you to
overhear me, Mr. Morton," she declared. "Forgive me. Of course I couldn't
accept your horse. But I do appreciate your kindness. Thank you for
lending me Beauty to ride."

Bab took her roses from Mr. Heller and made her way to Miss Stuart.

"Child!" protested Miss Sallie, "sit down! I shall ask your mother never
to let you ride a horse again unless you promise never to try to jump
over another fence rail. Oh, what I went through, when I thought you were
about to fall off that horse!" Miss Stuart raised both hands in horror.
"There ought to be a law against riding masters being allowed to teach
women to jump over hurdles."

"But the law wouldn't act against Bab, auntie," declared Ruth, who was
feeling very vain over Bab's success. "Because, you know, Barbara never
took a riding lesson in her life."

In a short time Miss Stuart took her party home.

Ralph and Hugh were to return to New Haven on the night train.

"Miss Sallie," begged Mollie, as they made their way through the crowd,
"there is Mr. Winthrop Latham. _Do_ ask him to come to tea with you
to-morrow."

"But why, my child?" Miss Sallie naturally inquired.

"Please, ask just him, not his nephew, Reginald. Do, Aunt Sallie, dear. I
can't tell you why, now, but I shall explain as soon as we get home."

"Very well, you funny little girl." And Miss Stuart complied with
Mollie's request.

Mr. Winthrop Latham promised to call on Miss Stuart and her girls at
their hotel the next afternoon at four o'clock.

CHAPTER XXI

EUNICE AND MR. WINTHROP LATHAM

"Ruth, may I go with you to get Eunice?" Mollie Thurston asked next day.

"Certainly, Mollie. Are not the four of us going? We want to bring