se to these unfamiliar aids to beauty.

"Won't it make your face feel sort of queer--like it needed washing?"
she demurred.

"Don't talk like a bourgeois," said Tess.

Missy applied the wet poppy.

At the barn, "the coachman" was luckily absent, so Tess could harness up
her steed without embarrassing questions. At the sight of the steed of
the occasion, Missy's spirits for a moment sagged a bit; nor did old
Ben present a more impressive appearance when, finally, he
began to turkey-trot down Maple Avenue. His right haunch
lifted--fell--lifted--fell, in irritating rhythm as his bulky feet
clumped heavily on the macadam. Tess had insisted that Missy should
occupy the driver's seat with her, though Missy wanted to recline
luxuriously behind, perhaps going by home to pick up Poppy--that is,
Fifine--to hold warm and perdu in her lap. But practical Tess pointed
out that such an act might attract the attention of Mrs. Merriam and
bring the adventure to an end. They proceeded down Maple Avenue. It was
Tess's intention to turn off at Silver Street, to leave the first carte
d'invitation at the home of Mr. Raymond Bonner. These documents were
proudly scented (and incidentally spotted) from Mrs. O'Neill's cologne
bottle.

Young Mr. Bonner resided in one of the handsomest houses in Cherryvale,
and was himself the handsomest boy in the crowd. Besides, he had more
than once looked at Missy with soft eyes--the girls "teased" Missy about
Raymond. It was fitting that Raymond should receive the first billet
doux. So, at the corner of Maple and Silver, Tess pulled the rein which
should have turned Ben into the shady street which led to Raymond's
domicile. Ben moved his head impatiently, and turkey-trotted straight
ahead. Tess pulled the rein more vigorously; Ben twitched his head still
more like a swear word and, with a more pronounced shrug of his haunch,
went undivertingly onward.

"What's the matter?" asked Missy. "Is Ben a little--wild?"

"No--I don't think so," replied Tess, but her tone was anxious. "I guess
that it's just that he's used to Tim. Then I'm sort of out of practice
driving."

"Well, we can just as well stop at Lester's first, and come back by
Raymond's."

But when Tess attempted to manoeuvre Ben into Lester's street, Ben
still showed an inalienable and masterful preference for Maple Avenue.
Doggedly ahead he pursued his turkey-trotting course, un-mindful of
tuggings, coaxings, or threats, till, suddenly, at th