"Are not you going?" inquired Barney.

"I don't know. They want me to go to help, but I don't think I'll go. I
don't think father would like me to go, and,"--a pause--"anyway, I don't
think I can get away."

"Oh, pshaw! Get Old Nancy in. She can take care of the children for
once. You would like the raising. It's great fun."

"Oh! wouldn't I, though? It's fine to see them racing. They get so wild
and yell so."

"Well, come on then. You must come. They'll all be disappointed, if you
don't. And Dick is coming that way, too. Alec Murray is to bring him on
his way home from town." Again Barney glanced keenly at her face, but he
saw only puzzled uncertainty there.

"Well, I don't know. We'll see. At any rate, I must go now."

"Wait," cried Barney, "I'll go with you. We're having dinner early
to-day." He hung up the scythe in the thorn tree and threw the stone at
the foot.

"I wish you would promise to come," he said earnestly.

"Do you, really?" The blue eyes turned full upon him.

"Of course I do. It will be lots better fun if you are there." The
frank, boyish honesty of his tone seemed to disappoint the blue eyes.
Together in silence they set off down the lane.