Hiram felt momentarily relieved. He shook his head, however, saying:
"I surely did not know anything about that. Orrin did not mention it to me. Are you sure—?"
"I sent him an invitation," Lettie said, pouting. "He is such a nice dancer. I am disappointed, Hiram."
"And he did not reply to you at all?"
She shook her head firmly. She was very pretty in her party dress and with her hair "done up" for almost the first time that Hiram had seen it so. Lettie seemed quite grown up indeed.
"It must be that Orrin did not receive your invitation. He surely would have mentioned it. We talked about this party a good deal," said Hiram smiling.
Lettie had been looking Hiram over, and now she was smiling a little, too. The young farm manager wondered if her amusement was not aroused by his ill-fitting suit. His gloves were uncomfortable, too. One of them had begun to split!
"How did you send the invitation to him?" Hiram asked hurriedly, trying to cover his own embarrassment.
"By mail. Just as I did yours."
"It is strange, then," Hiram said. "I am sorry, and I am sure Orrin would have loved to come. Are there any other folks on our R. F. D. route named Post?"