He drove in by the side lane to the broad yard at the back. One of the stablemen came out with a lantern and recognized Jerry. "Oh! Hullo! You're from Sunnyside, aren't you? Come down to help us?" "Help you do what?" Hiram asked climbing down from the carriage rather stiffly, for it was a cold night. "Help us look after the teams and show 'em where to park their jitneys," said the man carelessly. "Not to-night," Hiram replied soberly. "I've been invited to the party." "Whew! All right, me lord!" chuckled the stableman. "But there's nothing doing in the party line for an hour or more yet. Did you come so early because you were afraid they'd eat up all the cake and drink all the grapejuice on you?" Hiram did not answer this gibe. He walked around the cold streets for two hours before he ventured back to the Bronson house. Then he found that the company had arrived with a rush. He was directed to the men's coat room on the second floor. It was filled with men and most of them--at least those who appeared quite grown-up--were in dress suits. A glance assured the observant Hiram his own garments were not altogether in the mode. These fellows' coats fitted them as sleek as a cat's hide! Hiram knew that his garments wrinkled or bagged. After having his overcoat on so long and sitting in the carriage, his new dress suit needed pressing. The tailor's goose might have helped some at this juncture. He saw more than one curious glance cast in his direction. But he was in for it, and Hiram Strong had suffered a searing of his pride before. He knew how to stand the gaff. At the wide entrance to the drawing room Lettie was standing with her father to greet the guests. She carried an immense bouquet of hothouse flowers. "Hiram! How glad I am to see you," she said, very kindly. But at once the young farmer realized that she seemed looking over his shoulder as though in search of somebody else. Hiram stood aside, but there was nobody in the doorway. Lettie asked: "Isn't he with you?" "Who?" Hiram queried. "Mr. Post--Orrin Post. Didn't he come?" "Why Lettie! I didn't know he was invited. You didn't expect me to bring Orrin?" "I thought he would come with you, Hiram. I invited him." Hiram felt momentarily relieved. He shook his head, however, saying: "I surely did not know anything about that. Orrin did not mention it to me. Are you sure--?" "I sent him an invitation," Lettie said, pouting. "He is such a nice dancer. I am disappointed, Hiram." "And he did not reply to you at all?" She shook her head firmly. She was very pretty in her party dress and with her hair "done up" for almost the first time that Hiram had seen it so. Lettie seemed quite grown up indeed. "It must be that Orrin did not receive your invitation. He surely would have mentioned it. We talked about this party a good deal," said Hiram smiling.