come home ahead of you and get supper. I'll take to-day's eggs to
father's store on the way and ask him if he minds our having a
little walk. I've an errand at Aunt Abby's that would take me
down to the bridge anyway."

"Very well," said Patty, somewhat apathetically. "I always like a
walk with you, but I don't care what becomes of me this afternoon
if I can't go to Ellen's party."

The excursion took place according to Waitstill's plan, and at
four o'clock she sped back to her night work and preparations for
supper, leaving Patty with a great bunch of early wildflowers for
Ivory's mother. Patty had left them at the Boyntons' door with
Rodman, who was
picking up chips and volunteered to take the nosegay into the
house at once.

"Won't you step inside? " the boy asked shyly, wishing to be
polite, but conscious that visitors, from the village very seldom
crossed the threshold.

"I'd like to, but I can't this afternoon, thank you. I must run
all the way down the hill now, or I shan't be in time to supper."

"Do you eat meals together over to your house?" asked the boy.

"We're all three at the table if that means together."

"We never are. Ivory goes off early and takes lunch in a pail. So
do I when I go to school. Aunt Boynton never sits down to eat;