In the next few weeks she observed that in every picnic, every pleasure party, by land or water, Principal Trenholme was the most honoured guest, and, indeed, the most acceptable cavalier.  His holidays had come, and he was enjoying them in spite of much work that he still exacted from himself.  She wondered at the manner in which he seemed to enjoy them, and excused herself from participation.  It was her own doing that she stayed at home, yet, perversely, she felt neglected.  She hardly knew whether it was low spite or a heaven-born solicitude that made her feel bitter regret at the degeneracy she began to think she saw in him.

In due time there came a pleasure party of which Trenholme was to be the host.  It was to take place in a lovely bit of wilderness ground by the river side, at the hour of sunset and moonrise, in order that, if the usual brilliancy attended these phenomena, the softest glories of light might be part of the entertainment.  Music was also promised.  Principal Trenholme came himself to solicit the attendance of the Miss Rexfords; but Sophia, promising for Blue and Red, pleaded lack of time for herself.  “And I wish your scheme success,” cried she, “but I need not wish you pleasure since, as on all such occasions, you will ’sit attentive to your own applause.’”

She felt a little vexed that he did not seem hurt by her quotation, but only laughed.  She did not know that, although the adulation he received was sweet to him, it was only sweet that summer because he thought it must enhance his value in her eyes.  Some one tells of a lover who gained his point by putting an extra lace on his servants’ liveries; and the savage sticks his cap with feathers:  but these artifices do not always succeed.

CHAPTER XIV.

Up the road, about a mile beyond the college and the Harmon house, there was a wilderness of ferns and sumac trees, ending in a stately pine grove that marked the place where road and river met.  Thither Blue and Red were sent on the evening of Trenholme’s picnic.  They were dressed in their new frocks, and had been started at the time all the picnic-goers were passing up the road.  They walked alone, but they were consigned to Mrs. Bennett’s care at the place of assembly.  Several carriages full of guests passed them.

“I’m growing more shy every moment,” said Blue.

“So am I,” sighed Red.

Young girls will make haunting fears for themselves out of many things, and these two were beset with a not unnatural fear of young men who would talk to them about flora and fauna.  Sophia had told them that they looked like ninnies when they appeared not to know what people meant, and they could not endure the thought.

Sighed Blue at last, “Do you think it would be dreadfully wicked not to go?”

All the guests had passed them by this time, for they had loitered sadly.  It was not that they were not proud of their clothes; they were as proud as peacocks, and minced along; but then it was enough just to wear one’s fine clothes and imagine that they might meet somebody who would admire them.