"That's right," said Uncle Harry, "and for your sweet promises of kindness toward the child who has suffered so much to-day I'll remind you that on day after to-morrow I shall give myself the pleasure of taking you all to the fair. I promise you a _fine_ time." He turned to look over his shoulder, and laugh at their wild little cries of delight. He was anticipating the pleasure quite as much as they. * * * * * Dorothy, Nancy, and Flossie kept the promise that they had made, and Floretta fully enjoyed their kindness. She seemed unusually gentle, and Mrs. Paxton thanked them for so sweetly helping to amuse her, and thus make her willing to spend the day quietly. The day set for the visit to the village fair dawned bright and sunny, a light breeze making it just cool enough to be delightful. The barge was waiting for its gay little passengers. The children stood with impatient feet on the piazza, waiting for their host, merry, handsome Uncle Harry. At last a firm tread caused them to turn, and there he was, looking gayer than ever, a picture of health, strength, and kindliness, and clad in a most becoming outing suit of light gray serge. The blue of his tie was not bluer than his fine eyes, and no one could have glanced at him without knowing that he possessed a generous, loving nature, a kind and merry heart. "Come, little friends!" he cried. "Is every young lady that I invited here?" he added, looking anxiously lest some child be late, and thus by chance, be left behind. "Every one is here!" said Flossie. "I know because I've counted." "Then we'll start at once, unless some one would rather wait 'til to-morrow?" he said, his eyes twinkling. "Oh, no! No!" they cried. "We just _couldn't_ wait!" "In that case we'll go now!" he said, with a droll expression, as if he started at once, merely as an accommodation. "Why, Uncle Harry! You're only joking," cried Flossie. "You wouldn't be willing to wait until to-morrow. I heard you tell Aunt Vera to hurry and find your tie, because you were in such a rush to start!" "To think that my own little niece would tell tales like that, and thus let out the secret. What chance have I now, of making them think that I was really very shy about riding with such a large party of girls?" Shouts of laughter greeted this speech, and Uncle Harry waited until it had subsided, then he said: "Oh, well, if no one _believes_ that I am shy or diffident, it's waste of time to try to appear so, so I shall not try. Instead, I shall be very bold. Come, dears, let me help you in!" And amid shouts of laughter from the children, he lifted each high in air, and placed her in the barge, thus saving her the trouble of mounting the steps. Then taking his seat in the middle of the laughing, chattering little party, he called to the driver to start.