Katy painted the paternal wrath with a real relish. It seemed to furnish an adequate excuse for her having nothing to relate and put her on a little pinnacle of superior breeding as well. Her parents looked after her. It was only more ordinary people who permitted their daughters to run about at fifteen. Mamie was keen enough to realize this and she promptly resented Katy's patronizing tone. "Oh, Pa would have been mad, too, if he had known. But I was staying with my aunt. She didn't care what I did, just so I was on time to meals and didn't run around after dark." Katy was determined to keep up her end. "We used to have wonderful times at the church oyster suppers. One night last winter Dr. Wade--you don't remember him, Chicken Little, he's only been in Centerville about a year. Well, he took me in for oysters and bought me candy and three turns at the grab bag. And he is a grown-up man--he's been a doctor for over two years." Katy would hardly have told this story if Gertie had been there. She neglected to mention that Dr. Wade had kindly included Gertie and five other young girls in these courtesies. Or that he had remarked to Mrs. Halford that he loved to be with children because he missed his own brothers and sisters sadly. But Gertie was not present to mar the effect of this story with further particulars. Mamie began to rack her brain for forgotten attentions worthy to be classed with this superb generosity. Poor Chicken Little was hopelessly out-classed. Nothing more thrilling than being singled out in games and Blackman at school had happened to her. "Grant Stowe said you had the prettiest eyes of any girl here to-night. I heard him tell Jennie Brown so when she asked him whether he liked blue eyes or brown best. She is the awfulest thing--always fishing for compliments." This was generous of Mamie, for Grant was the one who had passed her by so recently. But Katy's eyes were also distanced and Mamie had been very much thrilled by hearing that Ernest might go to Annapolis. Further, he had chosen her twice that evening. She felt amiably disposed toward Ernest's sister. When the tales of past glories were exhausted, the conversation grew intermittent, being punctuated by frequent yawns. They were just on the point of dropping off to sleep when Mamie suddenly opened her eyes and sat up in bed with a jerk. "Music! Don't you hear it? I shouldn't wonder if some of the boys were out serenading. Oh, I do hope they'll come here." Katy and Chicken Little listened breathlessly. "It is!" "Yes, and it's coming nearer." All three hopped out of bed and crouched down by the window. The moon was setting, but there was still a faint radiance. The strains were growing more distinct. "I bet it's Grant Stowe and his two cousins from the Prairie Hill district. They are staying all night with him and are going to the picnic to-morrow. Don't you remember that red-headed boy?"