Mrs. Maynard's face lighted up with sympathetic interest as Helen gave her a graphic account of the week's gayeties. She had known Miss Stuart for several years, and could well understand Helen's desire to make her visit enjoyable. Miss Stuart, bored, might be a very difficult companion. "I am so glad for you, Helen, dear, that you have had such pleasant times. I wish you would let me feel that I had contributed in a small way toward helping you to entertain Miss Stuart, and, if you would enjoy it, I would love to have you all come over here for the dance on Saturday evening. I believe they are to have very good music, and we will arrange to have a pleasant little supper together. My husband will be here, and I expect Mr. and Mrs. Endicott, whom you may remember." "Yes, indeed, I do, and I know that I can accept for all of us. It will be moonlight, so the drive over will be delightful." On the way home little else was talked of between the girls but the prospective dance. Miss Stuart expressed herself as very much pleased with the idea, and the plan having received the sanction of her approval, Helen forthwith determined that every arrangement should be as perfect as her careful forethought could make it. When they reached the manor, the girls were having tea on the upper porch. They joined them at once, and the question of the dance was laid before them. "Glorious!" exclaimed Nathalie, ecstatically, and her verdict was loudly echoed by the others. Helen drew a chair up close to the tea-table over which Jean was presiding, and pulling off her gloves smoothed them out on her knee with the palm of her hand. "I want to consult you in regard to the drive, Jeanie," she said in a lowered tone. Jean nodded, and leaned across her, to hand a cup of tea to Miss Stuart. "Nathalie," said Helen, "please give Lillian some of that hot toast." "Toast and jam!" exclaimed Nan in accents of scorn, as she helped herself generously to both. "What sordid considerations, when there is a _bona fide_ ball in view." "Leave a slice for me, Nancy," laughed Eleanor. "I must fortify myself if you are going to wax eloquent." "Stop your nonsense, girls," and Nathalie waved an imperious hand at them. "The question is, how shall we drive over?" Jean turned to Helen. "If it is a fine night we might go in the wagonette." "Why, Jean, it would not begin to hold us all," interposed Emily. "There are fourteen of us, counting the men from the _Vortex_." "I did not include them," Jean replied quietly. Miss Stuart stared curiously at her over the edge of her teacup. "It seems to me that a dance without men is rather a tame affair, and I don't imagine the hotel will yield a very plentiful supply." Jean lifted her chin defiantly. "I was not speaking of the dance but of the drive over." "Well, that is perfectly absurd," Emily broke in. "The idea of our going over in one conveyance, and those poor men in another. What are you thinking of, Jean?"