When they rose from table, however, he followed her into the pantry.

"Diana, will you take a walk with me to-night?" he exclaimed, in a voice huskywith repressed feeling.

"To-night! Why, I have just promised Bill to go with him over to thehusking at the Jenks's. Why don't you go with us? We're going to havelots of fun," she added with an innocent air of not perceiving hisgravity.