“Did you?” asked Rob. “Why didn’t you wait till after school and let me go, too? I haven’t had a drive with you for ever so long.”

“You couldn’t have had one to-day,” replied Fred. “We walked.”

“Well, you might have waited for me, anyhow.”

“How do you know we wanted you?” asked Fred teasiugly.

Rob frowned for a moment, and then, determined not to be thrown out from his jolly mood, answered with a laugh,—

“What’s the difference, so long as I wanted you?”

“Of course we always do want you, Bob. We will go again next Saturday, that is, if Miss Bess can, and take our time about it,” said Fred, moved to gentleness by his friend’s unexpected meekness.

“Certainly I will go,” said Bess heartily.

“Oh, there’s the bell! Rob, will you go to the door, dear?”

Rob vanished on his errand, and soon reappeared, saying disconsolately,—

“It’s Mr. Washburn and that tenor, to see