The S. W. F. Club

ilary out to the big, busy, pl

would turn off down the by-road, leading to the station. Through the still air came the sound of the afternoon train, pant

suddenly, "what are

ent things-traveling for one." Suppose Uncle Paul's letter should come in thi

s wishing that you and I were

Hilary would think it one of their "pretend" talks, and it

seashore somewhere; but most anywhere, where there wer

Pauline

sister drew rein, as a girl came to

asked, catching si

ds'," Pauline told h

"'Only!'" she repeated. "Well, I just wish I was going, too; it's a

ously at Josie's strap of hooks. "And when school closes, you'll be th

"Father'll be going out past The Maples Satu

, and as she and Pauline drove on, she added

complacent Fanny with rather more severity than before. "She's one great mass of lazin

title than lane. Now and then, from the top of a low hill, they caught a glimpse of the great lake beyond, shining in the aft

and yet the new touch of color in her cheeks was not altogeth

be for supper," Hilary

ul

It was comforting to have Hilary act

ined house, breathing an unmistakable air of generous and warm-hearted hospitality. Pauline never came to it, with

em, as they turned into the dooryard. And an old dog, sunni

to have," Pauline said. "Please, will you take in a visit

y. "Now I call that mighty good of your mother. You come right

supper, t

u, Hilary? But a good night's rest'll set you up wonderful. Take her into the spare room, Pauline. Dear me, I must have fe

ng!" Pauline declared, as

oom, with broad windows facing south and west, and a small v

ter into it, and opened the porch door. Beyond lay a wide, sloping mead

n the low doorway. "Suppose you pretend you've never been here before

f you were going to sta

g to be

tors, not peddlers, nor agents, quite as well as his master and mistress did. "You'd be homesick enough, if you really were off on your travels-you'd better get used to

yes on the stretch of shining water at the far end of the pasture. "I wish you were going to be he

essing-gown across the foot of the high double bed. "Now I think you're all settled, m

ay pinks growing in the borders of Mrs. Boyd's old-fashioned flower beds. Already the peace and quiet of the house, the homely comfort, h

s for you," Mrs. Boyd said, coming in, a moment

"why it's been empty fo

aples. It was a pleasant place, with a tiny grove of its own, and good-sized garden, which, year after year, in spite of neglect, was bright with

ter them," Mrs. Boyd went on. "The girl's about your age, Hilary.

," she answered. "But, after

terribly interested in the farm; father's taken a great notion to her. She'll

ty people?"

r one would have supposed she had planned the whole affa

's first name?" P

ueer name for a gi

tty?" Pauli

e such a mane of hair-and it ain't always too tidy, neither-but she has got nice eyes and

few changes in her supper arrangements, Pauline turned eagerly to Hilary. "You're

e of those sudden changes of mood an invalid often shows, "or I her? We haven't seen

n the living-room! I heard her doin

ry said, "co

artily glad to see them, that Hilary's momentary impatience vanished. T

told her, and he insisted on her having a second helpin

ered immediately by a medley of shrill barks, in the midst of which a girl's voice sounded authoritively-"Quie

er of the voice appeare

Mrs. Boyd?"

le of young friends here, I want you shou

er yet, have you, Miss S

y answered, "but I'm hungry enough again by no

acquaintances, asking Mr. Boyd various questions about farm matters and answering Mrs. Boyd's questi

r regretfully, "I simply must go, it'l

so I won't urge you to stay longer. Father, yo

ster into the bedroom.

ul

he glass, turned quickly. "As soon a

ld-fashioned rocker. "I think so. Anyway, I love

irley were standing. Shirley was feeding Fanny with hand

" Pauline returned. "M

by the manor roa

erself in the gig, and balancing her

you're to be ever and ever so much

" Shirley asked, her voice

ly; just run do

get run down-here, in this air; I'm hardly indoors at all. Father and I have our meals out on the porch. You ought t

line commented. "Father has the worst

e were rather late; it's a pretty old church, isn't it?

e girls have never lived anywhere else nor been anywhere else-that counted. Any

ighty pre

slapped old Fanny impati

her liking. Now, as the three dogs made a swift rush at her leaping and barki

irley. "She isn't in the least scared, and it's

aintained," Shirley insisted; and a

n here long?"

eck of the boat; it looked so delightful, and so deserted and lonely, that we came back from the next landing

esome plannings of ways and means beforehand. Suppose-when Uncle Paul's letter came-they could

on, "how such a charming old p

rather-r

t is needed to it, without making it all new and snug looking. Th

been over there in two years. We

nd me. We adore picnics; we've had several since we came

y Fanny; what a lot she would have t

ouse. "There's father!" Shirley said, nodding to a figure coming towards them acro

much for the lift; and I am so glad to have met you and your s

very far over here from the parsonage, and," she hesitated, "you-you'

g for me, and then she and I can have some drives toge

k at the tall, slender figure crossing the field. Shirley seemed to walk as if the mere act of walking were in

me now, with her burden of news. It seemed to her as if she ha

ting for her. "You have taken your time, Paul Sha

time, y

protestingly. "I went for the mail

little of real concern in her voice, that Patience wondered. "S

ot something-particular-to tell mother! O

k more like an interro

e told her, getting

er asked questions, nobody'd ev

ome?" Paulin

eins up tightly and bouncing up and down on th

ng, for the moment, the desired effect; still, as Pauline said, it was hardly

anny's strong point; that, and the ability to cover less ground in an afternoon than any other horse in Winton. Th

ence-'s long's it's for your good. You're a very unchristiany horse, Fa

she broke in, "that I saw a nice girl at church last Sunday-in Mrs. Dobson's pew; and Mrs. Dobson kept looking at her out of the corner

said, "if you are going to interrup

luctantly, her blue

w she'll be contented to stay a week

ear. Yes, it

ter already, mother;

rfectly necessary ques

if there is only one

Paul and Hilary when they

om, Pa

le were certainly very trying at times. "

time, Patience;

at large, "when Paul and Hilary are married, I'll be Miss Shaw!

hem on our own account. I'm not sure it isn't your duty to call on those dogs-you lived here first, and I can't see why it isn't

s years, he still followed blindly where Patience le

eard an eager little voice calling excitedly, "Paul, where are y

p. "Here I am, P

un every inch of the way home!" She waved the letter above her head-"'Miss Paul

from her, had run into the hous