up
thinking about Mr. Coulter and his wedding."

The corners of Carl's mouth drooped but he stubbornly insisted:

"Well, anyhow, Ma, don't you tell Frankie O'Dowd he can have my clothes
until the very last minute, will you? Promise me that."

"Aye! I'll not mention the clothes yet awhile. I'll wait at least a day
or two. Most likely Julie or the Murphys will be up by that time and
ask for 'em."

And with this scanty comfort Carl was obliged to be content.

Even the concession that he would be allowed to wear his bathing suit
while at home was but feeble consolation. What did it matter what he
wore if he couldn't go to the Coulter fete?

CHAPTER XVII

AN ORDEAL

As the date for the Coulters' fete approached the weather was
breathlessly scanned in practically every home in Baileyville and
throbbing hearts almost ceased to beat lest the day be stormy or too
cold to wear the finery that awaited the great occasion. Could one have
taken off the roofs of the houses between his thumb and forefinger as
he would lift the cover off a sugar-bowl, what a bewildering array of
freshly starched muslins, clean shirts and collars, shining shoes, and
rose-encircled hats would have met his gaze!

Carl McGregor had spoken truly when he had affirmed to his mother that
everybody in the town was going to the wedding festival. All
Baileyville was on tiptoe with excitement. The schools were to be
closed for the afternoon, not alone to do Mr. Coulter honor, but
because it was quite evident that no children would be found in their
seats on the great day.

"We McGregors would be the only kids in the whole place, I bet, if they
did have school," declared Carl gloomily. "You see, Ma, it's just as I
told you--everybody's going to the Coulters'."

"I should think, hating school as you do, you'd be thankful to have a
holiday," commented Mary.

"Ordinarily I would," was the prompt reply. "But what good is this
holiday going to do me, I'd like to know, with Frankie O'Dowd wearing
all my clothes, and Mother forbidding me to go out of the house in my
bathing suit?"

"Well, at least you won't have to study," said his optimistic sister,
making an effort to comfort her morose companion.

"I might as well study; it would take up my mind," fretted Carl. "I've
nothing better to do."

His ill humor was so tragic that in spite of herself Mary laughed.

"Well, you needn't grin so over it, Miss Superiority, or go pretending
you don't wis