“Well, the Gurneys are all going, but they cannot take any but their own crowd, and there are several ladies we must find room for amongst us somehow,” said Fred Beverly.

“Well, I have to drive mother and sis, but I have one spare seat.  Will you accept the seat beside me, Miss Gussie?” said young Desbrasy.

Gussie wished he had not made the offer, as she hoped Hugh would ask her to drive with him, for Hugh had a fine team of his own now.

But as Gussie hesitated about accepting, she saw Hugh turn to Dexie, and with the air of a Chesterfield ask, “May I have the pleasure of your company for the drive down, Miss Dexie?”

“Thank you, Mr. McNeil, but I daresay I am already engaged.”

“No chance for you there, McNeil,” said Fred Beverly, with a laugh; “Miss Dexie is spoken for already.”

“Did I understand you to say that you were already engaged for the drive, Miss Dexie?” said Hugh, persistently.

“Well, Lancy has not asked me yet, but since he has promised to go, my invitation will come all in good time.”

“But his team will be full.  You had better take your chance with Hugh,” said Fred.

“There will be room enough for me, never fear,” said Dexie, smiling, “so Mr. McNeil is free to offer his services to some other forlorn damsel.”

“First come, first served, Miss Dexie,” said Hugh.  “I asked you first; come with me,” he added, bending over her chair.

“Couldn’t think of it.  We would be sure to quarrel all the way, and when I go to a picnic I want to enjoy every minute.”

“It takes two to make a quarrel, and I’ll not be one of the pair,” persisted Hugh.  “Come with me, and let me prove to you how much I can add to your pleasure, when you will let me.”

“Prove it now by asking Fanny Beverly or Maud Seeton to drive with you, for I decline the honor.”

“Are you so wrapped up, heart and soul, in Lancy Gurney, that you cannot spare a moment to anybody else?” said Hugh, angrily.

“Certainly!” Dexie replied, with flashing eyes, “and since you are going to be so disagreeable, Mr. McNeil, I guess I will leave you,” and she joined a group near the table.

“Where is Lancy, that he is not here to arrange about this picnic, said Fred Beverly to Cora Gurney, who was sitting by the table.

“Couldn’t say.  He promised to come in to-night.”

“Listen! isn’t that Lancy at the piano?” said Maud Harrington, as a sound of music in staccato style reached their ears.  “How plainly you can hear it through the walls!”

There was a hush for a minute, when Dexie said as naturally as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world,

“Yes, that is Lancy’s call; he wants me for something.  Will you excuse me, friends, for a little while, till I see what is wanted?”

Looks were interchanged amongst some of the young people, and, hoping to make Dexie feel vexed, Gussie said, “Lancy Gurney has only to whistle, and Dexie will run like a dog at a call.”