mother, Louise, cannot see this day! It
would furnish them with something to talk of for weeks."

"Hal and I will tell them all about it," returned the girl brightly.
"Isn't it splendid you all could go? Poor Carl was so disappointed when
he thought he was to be out of it."

"I know he was," nodded the lad's mother. "In fact, it worried me not a
little lest it was because he made his disappointment so evident that
we got invited. I was afraid some well-meaning person might have taken
pity on him and begged him a card. Had not you and Hal declared you had
nothing to do with our being asked, I should not have stirred a peg to
the party, let Carl plead as he might. But now I feel more comfortable
about our going, although I must confess it puzzles me why the
invitation was sent to him instead of to me. It certainly seems a
little funny. However, it may have been an accident. Of course Mr.
Coulter has had a lot to think of and might well be forgiven one
mistake. It isn't likely he could remember my husband's name. He was
pretty good to think of us at all."

"They say at the mills that Mr. John is very friendly and has ever so
many plans afoot for the workers. There is even talk of a recreation
building being put up on the factory grounds."

"Not much like his father, who wouldn't spend a cent he didn't have
to," mused Mrs. McGregor.

"No. Mr. John is different; everybody says so. Besides, he is younger
and belongs to a generation with other ideas."

"Better ideas, I hope. If children didn't improve on their fathers
where would the world be?" Then suddenly cutting short her
philosophical meditations Mrs. McGregor called imperatively:

"Timmie, stop chasing those butterflies this minute. Do you want to
spoil the shine on your shoes before you even get to the party? You'll
have your collar ruined if you gallop round and get so hot. Come back
here and walk beside me. I'm resolved to land you all at Mr. Coulter's
looking like human beings, whatever happens afterward. Then if you
prefer to smooch your face with dirt and rumple up your hair, I can't
help it. But you shall stay clean until you're inside the gate."

Glaring for a moment on her subjects with subduing ferocity Mrs.
McGregor drew herself up and moved majestically in at the entrance of
the Coulter mansion.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE SOLUTION OF MANY MYSTERIES

Once inside the magic portal of the great estate, however, Mrs.
McGregor's task became increasi