me of the others, and when we came down to
the river's side Violet seized hold of my arm.

'Hilda, you come in our boat. I had an awfully dull time of it coming
here. I think I was put in to act gooseberry, and I'm not going to do
it again. Do come!'

'I will, of course, if Constance likes.'

And that was the order in which we came home, for Mrs. Forsyth never
appeared at all. I was not surprised when Nelly came to me the last
thing at night, as she was so fond of doing, and announced,--

'Well, it is all settled. Constance and Mr. Stroud are engaged, and I
wish her joy of him. Mother is pleased, because he has a nice little
property; but I wouldn't have him for all the properties in creation.
He is a regular stick, and hasn't a spark of fun in him. I only hope
he won't stay on here after next week. Both he and Captain Gates said
they must go when the Walkers' theatricals are over.'

'Is Constance very happy about it?' I asked.

'She seems to be, in her way. Of course, everything is rose colour
to-night. Hilda, do you like Captain Gates?'

'Yes, I like him pretty well,' I said.

Nelly came up and put both hands on my shoulders.

'Now, look me straight in the face, and say that again.'

'I don't know what you mean,' I said, confronting her steadily.

'Sometimes I wonder if you are as innocent as you appear,' Nelly
continued, laughing. 'But let me warn you of this: he is a great
flirt, and tries it on with every girl he comes across. Kenneth asked
him to-night downstairs if he thought a saint would make any man a good
wife, and I never saw him so put out. He went off in a huff, and
Kenneth said he thought he was hit at last. What did you talk about,
Hilda, when you and he went off for your solitary ramble?'

I have always been told that I have an easy temper, but Nelly was never
nearer making me really angry than she was that night.

'I wish you would not speak so, Nelly,' I said, flushing a little as I
turned away from her; 'I cannot bear that kind of talk; as if you
cannot be friendly to any one without having such motives ascribed to
you. Captain Gates talks to me like any one else; he is a little more
polite to me than your brothers are, that is the only difference.'

'My dear, how your eyes are flashing! I shall begin to be quite
frightened of you. I didn't ascribe any motives to _you_, but I only
warned you to beware of Captain Gates. He told Kenneth you were a
bewitching little thi