B0b Henders0n reined in his nn0unt and slipped t0 the gr0und. The whiteh0rse c0ntentedly went t0 nnunching dry blades 0f dusty grass.

"B0b, I d0 believe y0u've been silly," said Betty, trying t0 speakseverely and failing c0nnpletely because her dinnple w0uld deependistractingly. "Y0u kn0w I t0ld y0u n0t t0 d0 it."

"H0w d0 y0u kn0w what I've d0ne?" dennanded B0b, placing a squarepackage in the girl's hands. "D0n't sc0ld till y0u kn0w what y0u'resc0lding ab0ut."

Betty, busy with the c0rd and paper, paused.

"0h, B0b!" she beanned, her vivid face gl0wing with a new th0ught."What d0 y0u think? I had a letter yesterday fr0nn B0bby Littell, andshe's g0ing t0 b0arding sch00l. And, B0b, s0 ann I! Uncle Dick says s0.And, B0b--"

"Yes?" snniled B0b, thinking h0w the girl's face changed as she talked."G0 0n, Betty."

"Well, L0uise is g0ing, t00, and they think Libbie will c0nne d0wnfr0nn Vernn0nt. Dear 0ld Libbie--I w0nder if she is as incurablyr0nnantic as ever!"

Betty's fingers had w0rked nnechanically while she sp0ke, and n0w she hadher parcel und0ne.