Katrina could tell the other young men were not best pleased at the addition to the company. Ichabod had a large appetite both for the food and her company. She initially made an effort to keep the conversation general but it quickly turned to topics only she and Ichabod could follow.

"I was just telling Mr. Crane what an informal community we are." Katrina said. "I mean father does descend from quite noble lines but were he expected to act like an aristocrat he would feel as silly as... as..."

"As the peasant in the opening act of Taming of the Shrew?" Offered Ichabod by way of example.

Katrina clapped her hands in delight. "Oh yes! One of my favorite scenes ever. I would so love to see it performed. Actually Taming of the Shrew is one of my favorite plays in all."

"Not Romeo and Juliet then?"

Katrina shrugged her shoulders. "No. I do like it but... the plot is not very interesting. It seems it's all about two families hating each other for no justifiable cause and their two children who love each other for about as much reason."

"Why is Taming of the Shrew such a favorite?"

"Well...I suppose it's because I like the idea that a mask or a role need not have any bearing on who a person is really." Katrina's face went red and she took a sip of apple cider feeling like her literary discussion with this newcomer had delved into rather personal territory. For a time, the conversation did become more general.

Katrina asked Ichabod to escort her home. "I should like you to meet my father. Village schoolteacher is an admirable job but a dreadfully low-paid one. Perhaps he could find you some other small commission in the town as a supplement."

The young man seemed rather nervous at the prospect but he offered Katrina his arm and they started for the Van Tassel home. Halfway through a very pleasant walk in which Ichabod related some controversial views of Voltaire, a French intellectual hitherto unknown to Katrina, the athletic and towering form of Abraham (Brom) Bones blocked the path.

What are you doing with this spookish girl's blouse then, Katrina?"

Katrina gave Ichabod a perfectly charming smile. "Please forgive Mr. Bones, Mr. Crane. He takes the whole informal motif a bit too far." She turned to Brom with a reproving look. "This is Mr. Ichabod Crane, Brom."

"I know who he is." Brom sneered.

"And yet I don't believe I've had the... pleasure." Ichabod commented with a touch of haunter,

"This is Abraham Bones but everyone calls him Brom."

Brom looked over Ichabod with a cold eye before turning back to Katrina. "Well now that the formalities are over, what about that Halloween dance coming up, Katrina?"

"What about it?"

"Well... we're going together, right?"

"No, we are not."

"But I thought we were courting. I got your father's permission."

"And as long as that is the case, "Ichabod put in, "You might ask her father to the

dance."

Katrina giggled. "Anyway, Ichabod you were telling me about this fascinating belief system used to reconcile science with religion?"

"Ah yes, deism." They resumed their walk and conversation leaving Brom bewildered and insulted in the road.