“But you shall tell me!  If you don’t,”—­Bill came a step nearer,—­ “I’ll pick you up and toss you up into the top branches of that biggest pine tree over there!”

“Pooh!  Who’s afraid?”

Patty’s saucy smile was too much for Bill, and, catching her up, he cradled her in his strong arms, and swung her back and forth, as if preparatory to pitching her into the tree.

“Here you go!” he said, laughing at her surprised face.  “One,—­ two—­”

“Mr. Farnsworth!” exclaimed a shocked voice, and Aunt Adelaide came hastening toward them.

Bill set Patty down, not hastily, but very deliberately, and then said, with an anxious air: 

“How did it go, Mrs. Parsons?  We’re practising for our great scene in the Pageant—­the Spirit of the Sea, tossed by old Father Neptune.  I do my part all right, but Miss Fairfield needs more practice, don’t you think so?”

Aunt Adelaide looked scrutinisingly at the young man, but his expression was so earnest that she couldn’t doubt him.

“Patty looked scared to death,” she said, with reminiscent criticism.  “Oughtn’t she to look more gay and careless?”

“She certainly ought,” assented Bill.  “Will you try the scene once more, Miss Fairfield, with Mrs. Parsons for audience?”

“I will not!” exclaimed Patty, and trying hard to repress her giggles, she fled back through her window, and drew the curtains.

“I didn’t know you were to have acting on the floats,” said Aunt Adelaide, innocently.

“I’m not sure that we shall,” returned Farnsworth, easily.  “I had a notion it would be effective, but perhaps not.  Do you know where Miss Dow is, by any chance?”

“Why, I think she’s just starting for the Sayres’.  Yes, there she goes now,—­walking down the path.”  “Will you excuse me then, Mrs. Parsons, if I make a hurried exit?  I want to see her on a most important matter.”

Big Bill fairly flung himself down the little staircase that led from the upper veranda to the lower one, and in a few moments, with long strides, he had overtaken Daisy, who was alone.

“Whoop-ee!  Daisy, wait a minute!” he cried, as he neared her.

“What for?” and Daisy turned, smiling, but her smile faded as she caught sight of Bill’s face.

“Because I tell you to!” thundered Bill.  “Because I want to talk to you,—­and, right now!”

“I—­I’m going on an errand—­” faltered Daisy, fairly frightened at his vehemence.

“I don’t care if you’re going on an errand for the Czar of Russia; you turn around, and walk along with me.”

“Where to?”

“Wherever I lead you!  Here’s a rose arbour, this will do.  In with you!”

Daisy entered the arbour, trembling.  She had never seen Farnsworth so angry before, and her guilty conscience made her feel sure he had discovered her treachery.  In the arbour they were screened from observation, and Bill lowered his voice.