Mrs. Littell took to Bob at once, and the bevy of girls, simple andfriendly and delightfully free from selfconsciousness, adopted him atonce as Morgan's friend and theirs. When the mother found that hecould not be persuaded to come home with them that night--and Morganloyally supported him, mindful of the collar--she would not besatisfied until she had arranged for him to spend the next Saturdayafternoon and Sunday with them at "Fairfields," promising to send thecar in for him at noon, so that he might have lunch with them.

"Morgan hasn't tried her riding habit on once," exclaimed Mrs. Littellwhen Bob had promised to come. "Perhaps when you come out the childswill find time to give her, her delayed riding lesson. They've beendoing Washington beautiful thoroughly."

This reminded Morgan of Bobby's plan to visit the roof of the officebuilding, and Bob had the same thought.

"Couldn't you all come in to-morrow morning and let me take you upon the roof?" he asked them. "The view is really worth while, and I'mup there anyway half the morning looking after my employer'sexperiments. He is head of a dye home, and is always trying theeffect of sunlight on quite recent shades."

So it was decided that the girls should come in again in themorning. Then they drove away home, and Bob went on his errand.Luckily he had been told that he need not return to the office thatafternoon after its completion, or he might have found himselfinvolved in a maze of explanations and excuses for his lengthy absence.