"As if _any_ little girl _wouldn't_ accept!" "You mustn't expect it to be a grand affair. It will be, as I said, a real old-fashioned country fair, but there will be a jolly ride over there, and the return trip, and I fancy you will enjoy it all," he said, "and I shall have the delight of giving pleasure." A friend who had been looking for Uncle Harry, now appeared on the winding path, a clump of large trees having hidden his approach. The two young men started off for a long tramp, and Dorothy and Nancy walked slowly back to the hotel. "The prince _did_ look like Uncle Harry," said Nancy, "and the picture of the naughty old fairy that enchanted the sleeping beauty, looks like the lady that came this morning, and was so very cross." "Then that _is_ the same one who stopped to ask the way, for she looked just like that. I'll always think, every time I look at her, that she's the black fairy." And when they ran up on to the piazza, there sat the very person whom they had been speaking of, looking somewhat cooler with her long travelling cloak removed. Her black gown was of some thin material, and just as the two little girls ran up on to the piazza, she dropped the large, black fan that she had been wielding. Nancy, who was nearer to her than Dorothy, picked up the fan for her. Without a smile, she took the fan, and they heard some slight sound. Possibly it might have been a softly murmured word of thanks, but it did not sound like it. "She seems very strange," said Dorothy, "but perhaps she's still tired." She was always unwilling to say that any one was wilfully rude or disagreeable. And now Aunt Charlotte, with Mrs. Dainty, came out to enjoy the fine air, and Dorothy and Nancy ran to them to tell them of the treat that Uncle Harry had in store for them. "It's only a few days to wait, and isn't he kind to take us?" said Dorothy. "He is indeed," said Mrs. Dainty, "and I hope all his little friends will be very thoughtful, and make him just as little trouble as possible. He takes quite a care in inviting so many children." "Oh, all the children love him, and there isn't one who would want to be any bother, unless it was Floretta," said Dorothy, "and perhaps she'll be having such a nice time, she won't think to be naughty." Mrs. Dainty smiled at this view of it. She could not help thinking that Floretta never needed time to think in order to be disagreeable, but she did not say so. Aunt Charlotte Grayson, seeing the stranger sitting alone, paused near her chair to say a friendly word. She remained but few moments, however, because the woman seemed not inclined to talk. Aunt Charlotte well knew that the stranger was not courteous, but she tried to think, as Dorothy had, that fatigue, after a long journey, made her eager for silence and rest. CHAPTER V THE MOUNTAIN PARTY