"I dare say it's just a boy-and-girl friendship," said Mrs. Bond, lightly, but trembling a little and pressing Mary's foot with her own. When they were climbing over the wooden seats a moment later, on their way to join Sammy, she added: "Oh, really, it's insufferable! I'd like to spank that girl!" "Apparently the whole village is on," contributed Tom, bitterly. A moment later Sammy saw them; and if her welcome was a little constrained, it was merely because of shyness. She settled down radiantly between her sister and aunt, with a hand for each. "Well, this is FUN!" said Sammy. "Did you get my letter? Were you surprised? Are you all going to stay until September?" Her happy fusillade of questions distressed them all. Mary said the unwise thing, trying to laugh, as she had always laughed, at Sammy: "DON'T talk as if you were going to be married, Sammy! It's too awful--you don't know how aunty and I feel about it! Why, darling, we want you to go back with us to New York! Sammy--" The firm pressure of her aunt's foot against her own stopped her. "I knew you would feel that way about it, Mary," said Sammy, very quietly, but with blazing cheeks; "but I am of age, and father says that Anthony has as much right to ask for the girl he loves as any other man, and that's all there is to it!" "You have it all thought out," said Mary, very white; "but, I must say, I am surprised that a sister of mine, and a granddaughter of Judge Peters--a girl who could have EVERYTHING!--is content to marry an ordinary country carpenter! You won't have grandmother's money until you're twenty-one; there's three years that you will have to cook and sweep and get your hands rough, and probably bring up--" "Mary! MARY!" said Mrs. Bond. "Well, I don't care!" said Mary, unreproved. "And when she DOES get grandma's money," she grumbled, "what good will it do her?" "We won't discuss it, if you please, Mary," said little Sammy, with dignity. There was a silence. Tom lighted a cigarette. They watched the game, Mary fighting tears, Sammy defiant and breathing hard, Mrs. Bond with absent eyes. "Stunning fellow who made that run!" said the elder woman presently. "Who is he, dear?" "That's Anthony!" said Sammy, shortly, not to be won. "Anthony!" Mrs. Bond's tone was all affectionate interest. She put up her lorgnette. "Well, bless his heart! Isn't he good to look at!" she said. "He's all hot and dirty now," Sammy said, relenting a little. "He's MAGNIFICENT," said Mrs. Bond, firmly. She cut Mary off from their conversation with a broad shoulder, and pressed Sammy's hand. "We'll all love him, I'm sure," said she, warmly. Sammy's lip trembled. "You WILL, Aunt Anne," said she, a little huskily. Pent up confidence came with a rush. "I know perfectly well how Mary feels!" said Sammy, eagerly. "Why, didn't you yourself feel a little sorry he's a carpenter?" "Just for a moment," said Aunt Anne.