She briefly explained at dinner that her friend had been up at four balls during the week, and wished to beg off from the visit she had promised until after the fifth, which was to be that night. "I don't see how she lives through it," said Adeline. "And at her age, it seems very odd to be just as fond of dancing as if she were a bud." "Louise is only twenty-three," said Suzette. "If she were married, she would be just in the heart of her gayeties at that age, or even older." "But she isn't married, and that makes all the difference." "Her brother is spending the month at home, and she makes the most of his being with them." "Has he given up his farming? It's about time." "No; not at all, I believe. She says he's in Boston merely as a matter of duty, to chaperon her at parties, and save her mother from having to go with her." "Well," said Adeline, "I should think he would want to be of _some_ use in the world; and if he won't help his father in business, he had better help his mother in society." Suzette sat fallen back in her chair for the moment, and she said as if she had not heeded, "I think I will give a little dance here, next week. Louise can come up for a couple of days, and we can have it Thursday. We made out the list--just a few people. She went out with me after lunch, and we saw most of the girls, and I ordered the supper. Mrs. Lambert will matronize them; it'll be an old dance, rather, as far as the girls are concerned, but I've asked two or three buds; and some of the young married people. It will be very pleasant, don't you think?" "Very. Do you think Mr. Wade would like to come?" Suzette smiled. "I dare say he would. I wasn't thinking of him in making it, but I don't see why he shouldn't look in." "He might come to the supper," Adeline mused aloud, "if it isn't one of his church days. I never can keep the run of them." "We were talking about that and we decided that Thursday would be perfectly safe. Louise and I looked it up together; but we knew we could make everything sure by asking Mrs. Lambert first of all; she would have been certain to object if we had made any mistake." "I'm very glad," said Adeline. "I know father will be glad to have Mr. Wade here. He's taken a great fancy to him." "Mr. Wade's very nice," said Suzette, coolly. "I shouldn't have liked to have it without him." They left the table and went into the library, to talk the dance over at larger leisure. Suzette was somewhat sleepy from the fatigues of her escapade to Boston, and an afternoon spent mostly in the cold air, and from time to time she yawned, and said she must really go to bed, and then went on talking. "Shall you have any of the South Hatboro' people?" her sister asked.