the incarnation of spring. No one would have imagined that she was a granddaughter of old Judge Hollis and a grandniece of Miss Sarah.

She went up to the counter and pushed a square[70] white envelope across to Caleb. Meanwhile, Aaron Todd had gone out to his wagon and was climbing into it. Trench took the envelope, smiling back into Miss Kitty’s laughing blue eyes, and opened it.

[70]

“So you’re ‘out,’ are you, Miss Broughton?” he asked, “or is this only the first alarm?”

“It’s my first really and truly ball,” said Kitty, “and Aunt Sarah’s going to lead the Virginia Reel!” She clapped her hands delightedly. “You’ll come, Mr. Trench?”

“I haven’t been to a ball in six years,” replied Caleb, smiling, “I wouldn’t know a soul. You’re good to me, Miss Broughton, and I’ll send a bouquet.”

“You’ll come!” said Kitty.

He shook his head, still smiling. “Shot would be better fun,” he said; “you mustn’t invite shopkeepers, Miss Kitty.”

Kitty pouted, but a red streak went up to her hair. She knew she would be teased by her intimates later for that very thing. Yet Caleb was a gentleman, and Judge Hollis loved him; Kitty was not sure that she could not love him herself if he tried to make her, but he never did, and he looked as detached now as a pyramid of Egypt, which was a nettle to her vanity.

“Will you come?” she demanded, leaning on the counter and nestling her little round chin into the hollow of her hands. Something in the gesture made him think of Diana—if Kitty had but known it!

“Can’t you let me off?” he asked good-naturedly.

She shook her head. “Please come,” she said. “I[71] bet Judge Hollis a dollar that I’d make you—and I’ll have to go without my dollar if you refuse; he swore you would.”

[71]

“Suppose you let me pay the debt, Miss Kitty?” Caleb smiled.

She shook her head. “Oh, it’s more than the money,” she protested. “He’ll say I couldn’t get you to come. I’ve got some pride about it; I hate to be laughed at.”

“So do I,” sympathized Trench, “and they’ll laugh at me for going. They’ll call me the Yankee shopkeeper—but I’ll go.”

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