“Why, what do you mean?”
“If you don’t go, I shan’t, that’s all.”
“Oh!” Rhoda looked at him, to see determination written on every feature, but withal a most tenderly pleading look in his eyes. “I’ll go,” she said faintly.
CHAPTER IV.
The Barn Frolic.
If Rhoda doubted James’s chivalric attitude toward her, she had reason to change her mind before the day was over. Her escort was all attention, and when it became evident that Becky Lowe had lost her wager, Lettice cast a merry glance at Rhoda, giving her a nod of approval. In spite of the fact that Becky was a neighbor, Lettice felt that she must champion her uncle’s guest. As they stepped aboard the little vessel which was to take them on their short sail, she whispered to Patsey, “We must make Rhoda have a good time.” And Patsey gave a responsive smile.
Patsey had been a little jealous of Rhoda on Joe’s account, but the evident devotion of his Cousin James rather relieved her feelings in that direction, and she confessed to herself that Joe had paid Rhoda only such attentions as were becoming that he should show to a visitor in his father’s house.
“Now what are we going to do?” asked Becky, when they were all safely aboard the graceful sailboat which, with canvas set, was speeding toward Love Point.
“We’re going to Kent Island, you know,” Lettice told her. “We are not going anywhere else first, are we, Birket?” She turned to address a very young gentleman at her side.
“No, miss,” he returned, “so Joe Hopkins says. I was over at the Ringgold’s, and Joe asked me to come along.”