ed to smile, but failed, and Ruth was too full of her own
affairs to notice.

"We're going to start at eight sharp. First we thought we'd pick up
the party as we went along, but Mrs. Cole said it would waste too much
time, so we're all going to meet at her house. I've so much on my mind
my head's spinning. Be sure you're on hand at eight. We're not going
to wait for any one."

"O Ruth!" faltered Nan, flinging out a detaining hand as the girl was
about to go. "I'm not going. Didn't I tell you?"

Ruth stopped short and gazed at her in bewilderment.

"Not going! What on earth do you mean?"

"I can't go; that's all," stammered Nan, flushing hotly at the seeming
weakness of the confession.

Ruth stared at her blankly.

"Well, I like that!" she enunciated at length.

"Why, I told you, didn't I?" asked Nan.

"Told me what? That you weren't going? Well, I should say not. Miss
Blake said you couldn't but you said flat down you would, and, of
course, I believed you. Don't you remember the last words you said as
I went away that day were that I could count on you? And so, of
course, I counted."

Nan stood and regarded the snow at her feet in silence.

"It's right-down mean to back out at the last minute when the party's
all made up and the couples all arranged and you've given your word.
We've been awfully careful whom we've asked, because we only wanted a
certain kind--not alone a certain number. Of course, we could get lots
of girls to take your place and jump at the chance; but we prefer you,
and you'd given your promise."

Nan ground the snow under her foot until it squeaked.

"I thought you were sick, or something, when you didn't come around,"
went on Ruth, sternly. "I never imagined for a minute it was because
you meant to flunk and leave us in the lurch like this. If I'd thought
that I wouldn't have gone to all the trouble I did to save you a place
next to John Gardiner when Mary Brewster was fighting tooth and nail to
get it."

The pinched snow squeaked again under Nan's grinding heel, this time
louder than before.

"It's all nonsense, Miss Blake's not wanting you to go," pursued Ruth.
"Everything is as proper as pie, and if the boys get to carrying on a
little too much Mrs. Cole will settle them in no time. She's real
determined when she makes up her mind. What under the sun does Miss
Blake think we are going to do? But that's no matter now. You gave me
your word, and you've no righ