o talk with her about the painful discovery he had just
made.

CHAPTER XII.

DONALD ANSWERS QUESTIONS.

"Well, Nellie, did you have a good time to-day?" asked Captain
Patterdale, as his daughter seated herself near his desk.

"I did; a capital time. Everybody seemed to enjoy it," replied she.

"But some seemed to enjoy it more than others," added the captain, with
a smile.

"Now, father, you have something to say," said she, with a blush. "I
wish you would say it right out, and not torment me for half an hour,
trying to guess what it is."

"Of course, if I hadn't anything to say, I should hold my tongue,"
laughed her father.

"Everybody don't."

"But I do."

"Do you think I enjoyed the occasion more than any one else, father?"

"I thought you were one of the few who enjoyed it most."

"Perhaps I was; but what have I done?"

"Done?"

"What terrible sin have I committed now?"

"None, my child."

"But you are going to tell me that I have sinned against the letter of
the law of propriety, or something of that kind. This is the way you
always begin."

"Then this time is an exception to all other times, for I haven't a word
of fault to find with you."

"I am so glad! I was trying to think what wicked thing I had been
doing."

"Nothing, child. Don John seemed to be supremely happy this afternoon."

"I dare say he was; but the firm of Ramsay & Son had a successful
launch, and Don John had compliments enough to turn the head of any one
with a particle of vanity in his composition."

"No doubt of it; and I suppose you were not behind the others in adding
fuel to the flame."

"What flame, father?"

"The flame of vanity."

"On the contrary, I don't think I uttered a single compliment to him."

"It was hardly necessary to utter it; but if you had danced with him
only half as often, it would have flattered his vanity less."

"How could I help it, when he asked me? There were more gentlemen than
ladies present, and I did not like to break up the sets," protested
Nellie.

"Of course not; but being the lion of the occasion, don't you think he
might have divided himself up a little more equitably?"

"I don't know; but I couldn't choose my own partner," replied Nellie,
her cheeks glowing.

"You like Don John very well?"

"I certainly do, father," replied she, honestly. "Don't you?"

"Perhaps it don't make so much difference whether I like him or not."

"You have praised him to the skies