Dora’s eyes sparkled.  “But I am a girl, just as you are,” she exclaimed, “and I should be delighted to stay.  You are very good to propose it.  Herbert is an awfully slow rider (I believe he always walks his horse), and I am sure it would be after dark before the carriage would get here.”

“Do let her stay,” cried Miriam, seizing Dora’s arm, as if they had been old friends; “I shall be so glad to have her.”

Mr. Bannister laughed.

“It is not for me to say what Dora shall do,” he replied.  “You two must decide that, and if I go home to report our safety, it will be all right.  It is now too late for me to go to Mrs. Dudley’s, especially as I ride so slowly; but I will drive there to-morrow, and stop for Dora on my return.”

“Settled!” cried Miriam; and Dora gazed at her with radiant face.  It was delightful to be able to bestow such pleasure.

In two minutes Mr. Bannister had brought in his horse.  In the next minute all three of the party were busy unbuckling his harness; in ten minutes more it had been taken off, the saddle and bridle substituted, and Mr. Bannister was riding to Thorbury.

Dora of the sparkling eyes drew close to Miriam.

“Would you mind my kissing you?” she asked.

There was nothing in the warm young soul of the other girl which in the least objected to this token of a new-born friendship.

As Dora and Miriam, each with an arm around the waist of the other, walked out of the barn and passed the lower story, the calf, who had been the main instrument in bringing about the cordial relations between the two, raised his head and gazed at them with his good eye.  Then perceiving that they had forgotten him, and were going away without even arranging his mosquito net for the night, he slowly turned his clouded visual organ in their direction, and composed himself to rest.

CHAPTER XII

TO EAT WITH THE FAMILY

As the two girls entered the house, Miriam clapped her hands.

“What a surprise this will be for Ralph!” she exclaimed.  “He hasn’t the slightest idea that you are here, or that anybody is going to spend the night with us.  If Mike said anything about you and your brother,—­which I doubt, for he is awfully anxious to get in that hay,—­Ralph thought, of course, that you were both gone long ago.”

The situation suited Dora’s fancy admirably.

“Let us make it a regular surprise,” she said.  “I am going to help you to get supper, and to do whatever you have to do.  Suppose you don’t tell your brother that I am here, and let him find it out by degrees.  Don’t you think that will be fun?”

“Indeed it will,” cried the other; “and if you don’t mind helping a little about the cooking, I think that will be fun too.  Perhaps you can tell me some things I don’t know.”

“Let us begin,” exclaimed Dora, “for everything ought to be ready before he comes in.  Can you lend me a big apron?”