"Is he coming?" exclaimed Rose.
"Yes; he was invited, and of course he will not decline when cake and coffee are in question."
"And when Miss Darrell is in question," said Rose, laughing.
"Do not tease, Rose. I am vexed in earnest this time."
"What do you say to having a little fun out of him, Bessie?"
"By all means, if you can extract it from such material."
"Well, then, I have thought of something. Come down in the arbor and I will tell you about it." The two girls walked away, and Aunt Faith was left alone to welcome the guests as they gradually assembled on the piazza. Mr. Gay, the Boston bachelor, was the last to arrive.
"Now we are all here," said Aunt Faith; "I will tell Hugh to have the wagons brought round."
"I will go, Aunt," said Bessie, and running through the house she went down to the stable-yard where Hugh sat expectant in his car of triumph. Slowly the equipage came round the house and drew up in front of the piazza, it was a circus band-wagon, gayly painted, and drawn by four horses, two bays and two blacks, while Hugh as charioteer sat on the high front-seat and held the reins with a practised hand.
"Hugh Warrington!" exclaimed Aunt Faith, "Four horses! I shall never dare to ride after them!"