As Nan rode in state out of the yard in the direction of the field, Ashby Gordon saw her and was fascinated by her appearance.
"What are you going to do?" he called after her.
Nan flashed him a merry look over her shoulder, but made no reply.
There was something entirely too enticing in the possibilities her looks presented and Ashby's curiosity got the better of him. He ran to find Randolph. "Come on, Ran," he said. "I wish you'd see Nan. She looks stunning and she's riding old Pete somewhere. Come on."
More impressed by Ashby's manner than his words, Randolph followed his brother. As they went out they caught sight of Nan just disappearing down the road behind the barn. A dip in the hill hid her from view in another moment, but they determined to take the same direction to see what was going on. Arriving upon the scene, they found Phil on Lightfoot, Mary Lee riding her Cousin Polly's Beauty, and the twins seated as spectators.
"A tournament," said Phil. "There is the grandstand if you want to look on."
"Oh, but I'd like to be in it, if I only had my horse here," said Ran.
"So would I," put in Ashby. "My! but Nan looks great. What are you, Nan?"
"I'm the Knight of Snowdoun, Mary Lee is the Knight of the Red Jacket and Phil is the Knight of Morro Castle because he is wearing a Rough Rider hat."
"It's rather too big," said Phil. "I've got to take a reef in it."
"We've only one ring," said Nan, "but we have a large assemblage to look on. The Goldenrod family are nearly all here. The Oaks are out in force and the Maples are dressed up in their gayest clothes, you see."
Ran looked at her with more interest than he had ever shown. "I say," he remarked, "you look like the real thing. Who's your herald?"
"Oh, we haven't any. Phil is going to call out: 'Prepare to charge,' and 'Charge,' unless," she said graciously, "you'd like to do it."
"I'd like it first-rate," said Ran heartily.
"All right. That will help us out finely, won't it, Phil?"
To which Phil replied: "It will make it more real, I reckon."
"The other two had selected their ladies before I reached here," said Nan, "so if I win I'll have to crown a make-believe. The crown is of red maple leaves. Jean is making it now."
"If you win," said Mary Lee contemptuously, being rather put out at the appearance of the Gordon boys upon the scene.