Carlia Duke was the first person to greet Mildred as she alighted at the Trent gate. Carlia knew of her coming and was waiting. Mildred put her arm about her friend and kissed her, somewhat to the younger girl's confused pleasure. The two girls went up the path to the house where Mrs. Trent met them. "Where's your baggage?" asked the mother of the arrival, seeing she carried only a small bag and her violin case. "This is all. I'm not going to paint this time--just going to rest, mother said, so I do not need a lot of baggage." "Well, come in Honey; and you too, Carlia. Dinner is about ready, an' you'll stay." By a little urging Carlia remained, and pretty soon, Dorian came stamping in to be surprised. "Yes; we're all here," announced Carlia, as she tossed her black curls and laughed at his confusion. "I see you are," he replied, as he shook hands with Mildred. After which ceremony, it did not just look right to slight the other girl, so he shook hands with her also, much to her amusement. "How do you do, Mr. Trent" she said. "Carlia is such a tease," explained the mother. "For which I like her," added Mildred. "We all do. Even Dorian here, who is usually afraid of girls, makes quite a chum of her." "Well, we're neighbors," justified the girl. After dinner Carlia took Mildred home with her. It was not far, just around the low ridge which hid the house from view. There Mildred met Pa Duke, Ma Duke and Will Duke, Carlia's older brother. Pa Duke was a hard-working farmer, Ma Duke was likewise a hard-working farmer's wife, and Will Duke should have been a hard-working farmer's boy, but he was somewhat a failure, especially regarding the hard work part. Carlia, though so young, was already a hardworking farmer girl, with no chance of escape, as far as she could see, from the hard-working part. The Duke house, though clean and roomy, lacked the dainty home touches which mean so much. There were no porch, no lawn, no trees. The home was bare inside and out. In deference to the "company" Carlia was permitted to "visit" with her friend that afternoon. Apparently, these two girls had very little in common, but when left to themselves they found many mutual interests. Toward the close of the afternoon, Dorian appeared. He found the girls out in the yard, Carlia seated on the topmost pole of the corral fence, and Mildred standing beside her. "Hello girls," Dorian greeted. "I've come to give you an invitation." "What, a party!" exclaimed Carlia, jumping down from her perch. "Not a dancing party, you little goose--just a surprise party." "On who?" "On Uncle Zed." "Uncle Zed. O, shucks!" "Well, of course, you do not have to go," said Dorian. "I think you're mean. I do want to go if Mildred is going." "I don't know Uncle Zed," said Mildred, "but if Mrs. Trent and Dorian wish me to go, I shall be pleased; and of course, you will go with us."