fun without you! Ellen and I made it up expressly for you,
thinking your father couldn't object to a candy-pull!"

"I can't help it; I did the best I could. Wait-still always asks
father for me, but I wouldn't take any chances to-day, and I
spoke to him myself; indeed I almost coaxed him!"

"He's a regular old skinflint!" cried Mark, getting out of the
wagon and walking beside her.

"You mustn't call him names," Patty interposed with some dignity.
"I call him a good many myself, but I'm his daughter."

"You don't look it," said Mark admiringly. " Come and have a
little ride, Won't you?"

"Oh, I couldn't possibly, thank you. Some one would be sure to
see us, and father's so strict."

"There isn't a building for half a mile! Just jump in and have a
spin till we come to the first house; then I'll let you out and
you can walk the rest of the way home. Come, do, and make up to
me a little for my disappointment. I'll skip the candy-pull if
you say the word."

It was an incredibly brief drive, at Mark's rate of speed; and as
exciting and blissful as it was brief and dangerous, Patty
thought. Did she imagine it, or did Mark help her into the wagon
differently from--old Dr. Perry, for instance?