Right on the dot, Allen," she laughed, flinging the door wide open.
"The clock is just striking the hour--listen," and obediently he
listened, his eyes on Betty's face, while the sweet chimes filled the
hall with melody.

"No wonder I am on the minute," he said, smiling whimsically. "I have
been wandering around for the past half hour trying to kill time. You
see I didn't quite dare to come at half-past seven."

She laughed gaily. "You would have had to spend your time in the library
if you _had_ come early," she said. "Because I have been ready for only
half a minute. Here's your hat, Allen," she added, taking it down from
the peg where he had just deposited it for the evening. Her manner was
grave but mischief sparkled in her eyes.

"What's the big idea?" he inquired, regarding the hat held out to him
with a puzzled expression. "I am very well acquainted with the article
in your hand. Too well acquainted, in fact, for this is the second
season we have been chums; and I see prospect of a third, if the law
business doesn't pick up. But, seriously, what is the idea, Betty? Do
you want me to go home and spend a dismal evening all by myself--is that
it?"

"Far from it, Allen. Oh, please don't look so glum," she added, and the
mischief bubbled over from her eyes and she laughed happily.

Opening Allen's hand, she placed the unwelcome hat therein and closed
his fingers over it. "The explanation for all this," she went on, making
him a curtsy, "is very simple. We have been invited to spend the evening
at Mollie's."

"Oh, bother M----" he began, then added, decidedly: "I came to see you
to-night and I am not going to the Billettes' or anywhere else! Here,
hat, get back where you belong," and he flung the offending article back
on the hook with an air of finality that matched his words.

"Please don't be an old bear," coaxed Betty, and Betty knew how to coax
to perfection. "Mollie has some perfectly wonderful news to tell us and
all our girls and boys are going to be there to hear it. You wouldn't
want me to be terribly disappointed--now you know you wouldn't," and she
looked at him appealingly.

Mollie opened the door to them herself, radiantly eager to tell her
news.

"Oh, hurry, you two!" she cried. "I thought you would never get here. We
have been waiting for--oh, ever so long."

"Well, if we are the last, everybody must have turned over a new leaf
just for to-night," remarked Betty, as she started for the libra