"That's one of the prettiest pieces of Swiss muslin I ever saw," said she. "And at such a reasonable price. It looks like one of the finest imported Swisses. I'm going to have that pattern this minute." She gave the order without hesitation. "I didn't know women ever shopped like that," said Richard in her ear. "Like what?" "Why, bought the thing right off without asking to see everything in the store. That's what--I've been told they did." "Not if they're wise--when they see a thing like that. There was only the one pattern. Why, another woman might have walked up and said right over my shoulder that she would take it." "If she had I'd have seen that you got it," declared Richard. He accompanied the party to the door when they went; he saw them to the sleigh and tucked them in. "Bareheaded again," observed Uncle Rufus, regarding him with interest. "Again?" queried Richard. "All the young men we meet this morning insist on standing round outdoors with their hats off," explained the elder man. "It looks reckless to me." "It would be more reckless not to, I imagine," returned Richard, laughing with Ruth and Roberta. "We'll see you to-night," Uncle Rufus reminded him as he drove off. "Bring Hugh with you. I asked him in the store, but he seemed to hesitate. It will do him good to get out." When the sleigh was a quarter of a mile up the road Ruth turned to her uncle. "Do you imagine, Uncle Rufus," said she, "that all those men you've asked for to-night will be grateful--when they see one another?" CHAPTER XIV RAPID FIRE "Well, now, we're glad to see you at our place, Mr. Kendrick," was Mr. Rufus Gray's hearty greeting. He had heard the sound of the motor-car as it came to a standstill just outside his window, and was in the doorway to receive his guests. "As for Hugh, he knows he's always welcome, though it's a good while since he took advantage of it. Sit down here by the fire and warm up before we send you out again. You see," he explained enjoyingly, "we have instructions what to do with you." Richard Kendrick noted the pleasant room with its great fireplace roaring with logs ablaze; he noted also its absence of occupants. Only Aunt Ruth, coming forward with an expression of warm hospitality on her face, was to be discovered. "They're all down at the river, skating," she told the young men. "Forbes Westcott is just home again, and he and Robby had so much to talk over we asked him out to supper. He and the girls--and Anna Drummond, one of our neighbours' daughters," she explained to Kendrick, "were taken with the idea of going skating. They didn't wait for you, because they wanted to get a fire built. When you're warmed up you can go down." "There'll be a girl apiece for you," observed Uncle Rufus. "Hugh knows Anna--went to school with her. She's a fine girl, eh, Hugh?" "She certainly is," agreed Benson heartily. "But I don't see how either of us is to skate with her or with anybody without--"