“Oh Freckles!” she cried delightedly. “So you could come? We were so afraid you could not! I'm as glad as I can be!” “I don't understand,” said Freckles. “Were you expecting me?” “Why of course!” exclaimed the Angel. “Haven't you come to my party? Didn't you get my invitation? I sent you one.” “By mail?” asked Freckles. “Yes,” said the Angel. “I had to help with the preparations, and I couldn't find time to drive out; but I wrote you a letter, and told you that the Bird Woman was giving a party for me, and we wanted you to come, surely. I told them at the office to put it with Mr. Duncan's mail.” “Then that's likely where it is at present,” said Freckles. “Duncan comes to town only once a week, and at times not that. He's home tonight for the first in a week. He's watching an hour for me until I come to the Bird Woman with a bit of work I thought she'd be caring to hear about bad. Is she where I can see her?” The Angel's face clouded. “What a disappointment!” she cried. “I did so want all my friends to know you. Can't you stay anyway?” Freckles glanced from his wading-boots to the patent leathers of some of the Angel's friends, and smiled whimsically, but there was no danger of his ever misjudging her again. “You know I cannot, Angel,” he said. “I am afraid I do,” she said ruefully. “It's too bad! But there is a thing I want for you more than to come to my party, and that is to hang on and win with your work. I think of you every day, and I just pray that those thieves are not getting ahead of you. Oh, Freckles, do watch closely!” She was so lovely a picture as she stood before him, ardent in his cause, that Freckles could not take his eyes from her to notice what her friends were thinking. If she did not mind, why should he? Anyway, if they really were the Angel's friends, probably they were better accustomed to her ways than he. Her face and bared neck and arms were like the wild rose bloom. Her soft frock of white tulle lifted and stirred around her with the gentle evening air. The beautiful golden hair, that crept around her temples and ears as if it loved to cling there, was caught back and bound with broad blue satin ribbon. There was a sash of blue at her waist, and knots of it catching up her draperies. “Must I go after the Bird Woman?” she pleaded. “Indade, you must,” answered Freckles firmly. The Angel went away, but returned to say that the Bird Woman was telling a story to those inside and she could not come for a short time. “You won't come in?” she pleaded. “I must not,” said Freckles. “I am not dressed to be among your friends, and I might be forgetting meself and stay too long.” “Then,” said the Angel, “we mustn't go through the house, because it would disturb the story; but I want you to come the outside way to the conservatory and have some of my birthday lunch and some cake to take to Mrs. Duncan and the babies. Won't that be fun?” Freckles thought that it would be more than fun, and followed delightedly.